The Tesla Couple: A Q&A with Susan and Jack Goodwin

Susan and Jack Goodwin personally own two Tesla Model 3 vehicles and have loved every minute of it. This is their EV story.

Q: What kind of electric vehicle do you drive?

A: “We have two 2018 Tesla Model 3s. Susan’s drives the Red LR RWD FSD, and Jack drives the blue LR Dual Motor AWD with a white interior.

Q: Does your partner love your EV as much as you?

A: “Jack loved Susan’s EV so much that he went out & bought his own!”

Q: Why did you buy this particular EV?

A: “Elon Musk was the pioneer, so I wanted to go with him. Model 3 was affordable. It didn’t hurt that the car had the bonus of the “wow”, “cool” look to it! And again the environment.”

Q: What was the year you started noticing EVs?

A: “It was 2015. Susan rode in a friend’s Tesla Model S, and Jack saw Dave Hrivnak’s Tesla

Roadster downtown around 2014. (They didn’t know Dave at the time.)”

Q: Why did you take a leap from owning an ICE to an EV?

A:  Because it was necessary, and [Susan] was ready. Jack couldn’t stand to get out of Susan’s EV and then back in his ICE vehicle, so he broke down & bought one too! We both keep our vehicles for a long time.

Q: Does your car have a name you like to call it?

A: “‘My Girl’ (I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day!) Because it’s always sunny when you’re driving an EV.”

Q: Do you own a specialty vehicle license plate?

A: “I did the first year BLUSKYS, for blue skies, since it’s always blue skies when you’re driving an EV, at least a Tesla. I decided to go with ‘Friends of the Smokies’ plate & so did Jack, since the money went to the Smokies.”

Q: What is one unique characteristic of your EV?

A: “IT GLIDES!”

Q: Have you ever made a long road trip in your EV?

A: “Yes, May 2019 we did a 5000+ drive out to Yellowstone NP & back. Read the blog!”

Q: Are you a member of an EV club or group?

A: “Oh yes. I am a part of the Knoxville EV Association (KEVA) & Electric Auto Association (EAA).”

Q: Do you attend EV events in your area?

A: “Well, of course! Pretty much every one we can attend. Anything from Earth Day to National Drive Electric Week (NDEW) to the Knox Auto Show, Autos through the Ages & Cars & Coffee. The last three are not EV show’s, but it’s important to put EV’s out there among the ICE vehicles.”

Q: If the sky was the limit and you could design an EV, what would be your top five must-have features?

A: 

1. Even more range

2. More exterior and interior color choices (Red with tan or camel interior!)

3. Apple CarPlay in Tesla

4. Weather radar overlay on navigation maps

5. More voice commands

Q: Would you ever buy another EV?

A: “I would NEVER buy another ICE vehicle again! I am interested in a Tesla Cybertruck.”