How times change, and none more so for those who have were born in the early parts of last century.
A man born during the dawn of automobility, when the Ford Model T was in its heyday, is now sitting behind the wheel of a Tesla Model Y after buying it for himself for his birthday.
In a post on social forum Reddit, by u/andork28 on Monday (US time), the author has shared a photo of their grandfather standing next to his brand new and very shiny red Model Y electric crossover, saying, “My grandpa just turned 91. This is his birthday present to himself.”
The Model Y is Californian EV maker Tesla’s fourth volume production electric vehicle, first introduced in March 2020. While it is not yet available in Australia, it sells in the US from $US48,490 ($A62,533 at today’s rates) for the Long Range variant before on-road costs and potential subsidies.
The post prompted a waterfall of comments from Reddit users, with one quick-witted user pointing out that being born during the production years of the Ford Model T (which was made from 1908 until 1927 and indisputedly kicked off the internal combustion engine – ICE for short – vehicle industry), the author’s grandfather has experienced firsthand the incredible evolution of the car industry over the last century.
“So when your grandpa was born, Model T is still a big thing in the US. Can’t imagine in someone’s lifespan, they can witness something from Model T to Model Y…” they wrote, likening it to the possibility this generation could experience something equally revolutionary – a trip to Mars.
Another pointed out that the grandfather’s purchase of the Model Y electric vehicle is in fact the auto industry coming full circle, as there were rudimentary electric cars on the road before the Ford Model T.
“Except electric vehicles have been around since before the Model T,” the commenter said.
It is perhaps another subject for another time, but it is widely understood that early electric vehicles were superseded by combustion engine vehicles because battery technology was too undeveloped to be of great use for transport, and mass-production of combustion engines and the availability of plentiful cheap oil meant ICE cars were simply easier and more affordable to make for the masses.
But back to grandpa, who not only bought himself the very latest electric car from EV pioneer Tesla but, wait for it, bought himself the $US59,490 ($A76,718 converted) Performance variant as is denoted by the wheel trim.
“WAIT. 91 and not just Tesla..but he got the Performance version? That man..is my hero,” said another commenter.
Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.