Tesla, Hertz, and the Texas Uber driver - Oh hell no!!!

 Ok, so I just started doing Uber on January 3rd 2022.  Typically I would be in the oil patch testing a pipeline somewhere.  However, in light of the current administrations energy policy, here I am.

     Speaking of energy, Hertz rent a car purchased over 4.2 billion dollars worth of Tesla Model 3 cars.  I think the plan is for Uber to create a program for their drivers to use these cars.  Well, that plan might have been mostly hopieum. Being the "new" guy, and needing some repair work done on my own car, I thought I would see how that Uber/Hertz rental might work out.

    1st issue, Uber stated that the rental would be less than $400.00 per week, my final bill was $536.00.  The final charge was based on user fees, recharge fees and taxes.  Still, not what Uber promised.  

    2nd issue, Battery Anxiety is a real thing.

    3rd issue, super charger locations.

    4th issue,  wait in line to use a super charger.

    5th issue, time it takes to recharge.  The car I rented had a 242 mile range when fully charged.  I work in Houston, Houston is spread over 637square miles.  There are two (2) locations in Houston that I was made aware of, with the Tesla Super Charger, charging capability.  One on the Northside at I-45 and Airtex, it has six (6) chargers and is located in front of the Tesla store.  The other one on is on the other side of town on Westheimer road.  I heard the Westheimer location was twice as fast in recharging.  I believe it is a V2 station with 250 KW charging capability.  There are hotels and malls etc with EV charging locations, the problem is with the amount of time it takes to recharge.  The Westheimer location could recharge your battery from 18% to complete in roughly 15 minutes, how many other Tesla owners are in front of you, no telling.  At the Northside location I used, it would take me 40 minutes to an hour to recharge to full capacity, and that is after the typical 15 - 20 minute wait in line to use the charger.  Oh and the small little charging locations, you are looking at 2 and half to 4 hours for a complete recharge.

I don't feel from my week long experience, that Uber Tesla is possible or profitable for the Houston area Uber driver.  Last week I drove 17 trips and made less than $ 100.00, I have been given trips where I have driven 14 miles to make a 3 mile trip and earn $3.18, so do the math. They can promote the "GO Green with Tesla, but it was a poor choice and obviously not thought out process.  Uber management is delusional and has very little idea how it works in the car as the driver.  Fortunately it is such a huge cash cow, even idiots can be successful for a short time.  It is not sustainable, watch. 

In my opinion all things Uber are weighted toward the company and not the driver.  The contests they offer have unreal and unprofitable goals.  If you work your ass off you can bring home around a $1000 dollars a week, however that is gross, before taxes and fuel costs and vehicle maintenance.  Uber is mainly a cash flow, short term gig to be termed "useful".  It is NOT a career, except possibly for some one who is independently wealthy, retired, bored and likes to drive.  Oh, and they Uber driver app is a POS too. 

Tesla is the car of the future absolutely, loved the car the comfort the handling, everything except the battery issue, until that is resolved, NOPE.  People live hurried lives and having to actively plan around having your battery charged, is a major pain in the ass.  Give me a battery that lasts 4 or 5 days with unlimited mileage and I'm all in.  

With Uber, the people who ride are the best thing about the job, they are interesting to speak with and the stories... omg.  Don't be an Uber "goober", rude and disrespectful riders.