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The future car mechanics of the future got a glimpse of what they might be dealing with down the road… as a local electric company brought a Tesla to the
automotive class at the Escambia Career Readiness Center in Brewton.

Jeff Kirkland from Southern Pine Electric brought the 2018 EV to Thomas Fischer’s automotive class. Kirkland fielded questions from the students and let
them check out the interior, while explaining that preparing for a trip is extremely important.

“You have to think, you have to plan,” Fischer said. “You can’t just drive and expect to find a charging station. And you’re adding time to a long drive, 30-45 minutes per charge.”

He also talked about “range anxiety” and how turning on the air conditioner or heater can cut into the miles you can drive on a charge.

Fischer was happy his students got a close look at the car. “It’s a glance at what they’re going to experience in the next five to ten years.”

Richard Wilson, a Junior at Flomaton High School, though the Tesla was a cool car. But would he want an EV?  “It would depend, if they got better with the range.”

The Tesla visits are part of an educational program provided by Power South Energy Cooperative.