We are getting more and more coverage in the press:

https://cleantechnica.com/2022/05/02/silent-ride-to-safety-tesla-wensrit/ (cleantachnica.com has 7 million visits per month)

En français https://www.tomsguide.fr/tesla-des-volontaires-transportent-des-refugies-ukrainiens-aux-pays-bas/

May 24, 2022

Here we go again :) Friday 27th I'll be going for the third time to Poznan.

 

May 26th 

The car is washed, relief aid and surprises for the drivers are loaded, as the car. The alarmclock is set for 04:30.

May 27th

04:30 wake up, 15 minutes later in the car, which is 99% charged. Temperature is 14, so plenty of km's ahead before the first charge. However, the Tesla navigation tells me to charge already at Hilden, Germany, where I would have 30% charge left. But since it is a Supercharger station I've not used before and it is the biggest in Germany with 40 stalls I give it a go.  It is drizzling when I leave home and in Germany it only gets worse with rain. I enjoy the drive as I'm listening to a podcast, that makes the time go fast and before I know it after 2 hours I arrive at Hilden where I take a coffee, clean my Huel shaker and brush my teeth.

Data: 14°, remaining 10%, 42,6 kWh used, average 207 Wh/km, distance 206 km, time 02:00, average speed 103 km/h.

Just before 07:30 I leave with a charge of 88%. After a half ours drive it starts to get dry and I need to put on my sunglasses while further listening to the podcast. There are many roadworks and pieces where the maximum speed is 120 or 130. Where there is none I let the horses go :) and after about a 2 hours drive I reach supercharger Lauenau with 10% charge left. I do a dump here and go back in the car to update this blog. I don't need to charge long as the next supercharger is at 160 km.

Data: 15°, consumption 52,5 kWh, average 230 Wh/km, distance 228 km, duration 01:55, average speed 124 km/h.

After a short ride of just 1 hour and 20 minutes and another podcast I arrive at supercharger Hohenwarsleben. Here I buy 2 sandwiches in the gas station and after visiting the toilet want to eat it in the restaurant directly attached to the station. After starting to update the blog I get told not to eat here but in the gas station. Ok, I leave and go to the car waiting for the car to charge enough for the next supercharger 150 km away. I haven't seen any other Teslawensrit participants yet. Surely I will see them at the next stop as that is for all of us the last stop needed to reach Poznan.

Data: 18°, remaining 21%, consumption 36,1 kWh, average 219 Wh/km, distance 165 km, duration 01:20, average speed 124 km/h.

Another short ride of again 1 hour and 20 minutes brings me to the last German supercharger at Berlin. The sun started shining and the podcast was nice to listen to. Time flies when you're listening :) I just plugged in and directly after me 4 other Teslawensrit drivers show up. Marianne and Jeroen, whom I know from the last trip, and Eric from the first. We went together into the Van der Valk restaurant to have lunch while the cars charge. 

Data: 20°, consumption 29,6 kWh, average 197 Wh/km, distance 151 km, duration 01:20, average speed 113 km/h.

At 14:10 we leave for a 250+ km drive to Poznan. Also this ride is smooth as the sun is shining the weather is good, the podcast nice to listen to and the roads are fine. After a 2 1/2 hour ride I arrive at the center where we can unload our relief aid. As I arrived alone I was wondering if I was at the right place as I was welcomed by military. It turns out that they are there to help this place as it is the only place in Poznan where the refugees have to register.  The soldiers help we to unload, and shortly after the other Teslawensrit drivers appear. Also they are being unloaded. Afterwards we get a tour through this center. We get the explanation that this registration center receives on average, still now, around 1000 refugees per day! They can stay after the registration, and get information about the process and being in Poland, but will have to leave to one of the refugee centers in town. Those I've visited on my previous 2 trips. For emergencies they keep 60 beds available though. This registration center, one of 20 in Poland, can be compared with the Heizel in Brussels, with around 15 different separated buildings. As these are commercial buildings the owners, together with the government guarantee that Caritas, the NGO taking care of the Ukrainian refugees, can get this building more or less for free. After the tour the 8 of us split up in 2 groups as I have 1675 Euros to spend. The other group can spend 1350 euros. So, with 4 cars we drive to Makro. I get Anastasiia with me in the car, a Caritas volunteer. She is Ukrainian but lived already in Poland before the war started. She is with us to help us with the translation and she got a list of goods which Caritas needs: washing powder, ventilators, milk, juices, sweets for the kids, brooms, trashbags, coffee, tea, cornflakes, etc. With the first load of 4 Makro caddies we had only spent 5900 Zlotties, while I had a budget of 7600. So, me and Anastasiia went back to buy more ventilators, washing powder, sausages and sweets. We took a little too much so had to leave 5 bags of washing powder behind. Anyway, it is money well spent, and we make Caritas very happy with it. They told us that they can now go forward 1 week with this. When the second group who went to a different shop, arrives as well we go to the supercharger in Poznan where also a restaurant is available. We eat there and just after 22:00 we leave for the hotel. There I give copies of the Belgian Tesla Club lifestyle magazine Supercharged to the those drivers that were not there on my last trip, and I also give them a can of Chernigivske, the Ukrainian beer that has been put on the Belgian market to support, amongst others, Caritas. AB InBev will donate the profits of this beer to different organisations. At 23:00 I finish the blog for today.

Total today: 1027 km, 218 kWh, average 212 Wh/km. 

May 28th

I did not sleep well. After finishing the report last night, I went to the room where Xander was already sleeping. I woke up around three o'clock because I was too hot. I then opened the window, but that made the street noise come in. I feel like I've been awake for 2 hours. However, I didn't wake up until a little after six when Xander got up. I dozed off a bit and half an hour later I showered, had breakfast and drove to the station at 08:00 with 8 Tesla's. Anetta is there as a contact person and distributes the refugees. I am assigned Olga, the mother, Julia, the daughter and Ilya the son, whom I will take to a host family in Helmond. Julia is 14 and Ilya 12. He is not the happiest and immediately falls asleep as soon as we drive half an hour later. I think he suffers from the fact that his father is not there. He had to stay behind in Odessa, where they come from. They have given me information about him that I will not reproduce here because it is militarily sensitive. Olga had an internet shop. Ilya is judoka and Julia dances. We drive in a convoy because an X has too little range. So several ride in front of him to get him out of the wind. As a result, it does not go too fast, which explains the low average speed of this ride.

Data: 15°, consumption 57.6 kWh, average 224 Wh/km, distance 251 km, duration 02:40, average speed 94 km/h.

About an hour and a half later we arrive at the next supercharger in Lehre. We have only covered 213 km but the headwind explains the fact that we already have to load. During this trip they told that they come from Odessa and that they fled to Bydgoszcz in Poland in March, where they left by train at 03:00 this morning. That explains why the kids sleep so much. They also slept a lot on this ride. Mother Olga has also closed her eyes. That is probably contagious because I too have trouble keeping my eyes open. In Lehre we visit the Burger King and apart from the veggie chicken I also order a double espresso, nothing for me to drink coffee in the afternoon, and a Redbull. Don't worry though, thanks to Tesla autopiwit remains a safe ride. 😉

Data: 16°, remaining 5%, consumption 58.3 kWh, average 274 Wh/km (the highest so far), distance 213 km, duration 1:40, average speed 128 km/h.

During this ride the children still sleep a lot and mom is not very talkative because of the language. During the ride, the host parents are video called to get to know each other. It turns out that I don't drop them off at their place but at the reception center in Helmond. They will be there when we arrive. There is also a surprise for Olga, Julia and Ilya because there will be another Ukrainian family that they know. I can't say anything about that of course. I think Julia is a bit ill because at the supercharger in Lippetal she asks if she can sleep in the car while charging.

Data: 19°, remaining 13%, consumption 55.5 kWh, average 242 Wh/km, distance 230 km, duration 1:40, average speed 138 km/h.

I'm going to McDonald's to eat ice cream and update this blog. After I finish it, I also buy one for Julia and Ilya. I ask Julia if she has slept and if she is feeling well. She feels fine, but just a little tired. The last part of the ride is approaching. It is again a quiet ride, but despite that it goes by quickly. Rene is already waiting for me at the shelter. We get the luggage from the car and want to walk into the reception center, accompanied by Jolanda, Rene's partner, but the surprise is already hidden behind a wall; their acquaintances who were collected today from another shelter to welcome them. Tears are shed by Olga, Julia and even Ilyan ;) It is a very nice end to this journey for them from Bydgoszcz to Helmond: 1000 km today by train and Tesla. Rene explains me how it works here at the shelter. This is an old school of 3 floors, which is being renovated floor by floor to make rooms for refugees. At the moment there are 90 Ukrainians present, but in the long run there will be room for 300. The Polish coordinator has ensured that we, as Teslawensrit, have brought refugees here for the first time. I inform our chairman that we can bring more Ukrainians here in the future. I'm offered a hot meal, potatoes, broccoli and a meatball which I finish in the microwave after a beep. At 20:00 I leave Helmond to drive back home via the supercharger in Eindhoven.

Data: 19°, remaining 8%, consumption 46.4 kWh, average 217 Wh/km, distance 214 km, duration 02:40.

At 20:45 I drive back home where I arrive at 22:15.

Total: 2081 km, consumption 465 kWh, average 223 Wh/km (less than the previous 2 trips, mainly due to the higher temperatures). 

April 14, 2022

I'll be going again. This time I'll be leaving Friday 15 April. The Tesla is already fully loaded again with relief aid, and financial support is being gathered by my colleagues. Makro Poznan, here I come!

My colleagues gathered this time €1265 ! The Tesla is fully loaded; electric and physical. See the pictures.

Just before going to sleep I got a WhatsApp from Sylvie, who told her parents about this trip. They were so touched by my trip and made a contribution as well. We are now at €1465!

April 15th 

Alarm at 04:30, shower, departure in the mist at 04:45 with 99% charge. I drove through a misty landscape, which gave a nice touch to the beginning of the day. After 251 km and 2 and a half hours of a calm ride, I arrived at the first Supercharger of the day in Bochum. 

Data: still 8°, 56,9 kWh used, average 227 Wh/km, distance 251,2 km, time 02:20, average speed 108 km/h.

Second supercharger in Lauenau just before Hanover. This was a piece of highway without speedlimits 😜. Here a short stop as the next one, the meetingpoint is not that far. I'm taking a coffee in a typical German stube. On the picture you'll see that masks are still mandatory inside.

Data: still 10°, 49,7 kWh used, average 255 Wh/km, distance 195,1 km, time 01:30, average speed 131 km/h.

50 minuten later I arrive at the Lehre supercharger, the meetingpoint. There is only 1 other Teslawensdriver, Alex, which I know from my first trip 3 weeks ago. However, he's almost ready charging and continues. I'm going to the toilet, brush my teeth (which I hadn't done yet) en go back to the car to continue this blog waiting for others. On the WhatsApp live locations I see that that can take a while though. Note for myself: waiting for others here is not necessary.

Data:  10°, consumption  21,1 kWh, average 209 Wh/km, distance 101,2 km, time 00:50, average speed 121 km/h.

Two hours later Blankenfelde supercharger is reached, via a not too pleasant drive; lots of speedlimits, even a traffic jam of 2 km, and raining just before reaching Berlin. The chargestation is busy, and I get the latest stall. To be able to reach Poznan it will be a good hour of charging. Trying to help another Teslawensritdriver with his stickers I get barked off 🐕. Well, his problem... I go into the Van der Valk hotel for a cup of tea and cake. Later Christiane and Hendrik join me.

Data:  11°, consumption  50 kWh, average 241 Wh/km, distance 204 km, time 01:55, average speed 121 km/h.

Because there is a speed limit in the stretch to the border, it is ultimately no problem to arrive in Poznan and therefore you don't have to use the Ionity charger just across the border, as most of us will do. Maybe the ladies standing there counting cars have something to do with it? 😅 The ride on the good Polish highway goes smoothly despite the rain and I first go to the supercharger because with 9% remaining and still having to go to the Makro won't be enough.

Data: 10°, consumption 61.8 kWh, average 244 Wh/km, distance 253 km, duration 02:00, average speed 126 km/h.

At the supercharger it is still raining and there is some confusion where we can unload our stuff. Fortunately, Virginia, the great organiser, is charging next to me and I am told first hand where to go. That turns out to be across the street at a large sports arena. The same pattern here as during my previous experience; a large building, probably with the same layout as last time, but I couldn't confirm that this time. Partly because the weather is not as pleasant as it was then. The atmosphere is also different, nobody comes out, because of the weather, so the warm welcome of the previous time is missing. It's a shame, but after all, that's not what we're here for. No, now we come to unload our relief supplies, where the security guards who help us look with amazement at what can be put in a Tesla and the amount that can come out. Mine was certainly full. We, Virignia, Wim, Marianne and I, are the first to unload. After that is done I ask them if they want to ride with me to the Makro to do some shopping. They are happy to do that and Virginia arranges for someone from the kitchen, Nicolay, to come with us so that we buy the right stuff. Arriving at the Makro we take 3 large carts and we go inside and Nicolay starts walking straight to the men's shaving cream and starts loading greedily. Marianne is sent in search of large bras, but the Makro does not sell them. We continue with the loading of fruit, cucumbers, sausages, coffee, milk, a suitcase (Nikolay actually wanted more but we think it's a shame to spend so much money on it), yoghurt, underpants, etc. etc. Nikolay is a bit retained, I think, because he says that enough of each item has been bought, while I think that we have not spent nearly enough. I ask him how many people are accommodated in the arena. 500. Ok, that's why we don't have to buy that much. This is also apparent from the final settlement: 5951 zlotty. Less than the 6,770 my colleagues have collected. I will see with them what I will do with the remainder (800zlotty=165 euros). Anyway, we load the 3 and 2 S's and drive back to the arena, where we are welcomed by security again with their mouths dropping. Because I only charged up to 45%, I have to go back to the supercharger. There I go to eat and meet 2 other drivers together with Marianne and Coen, my roommate. We met Coen at the arena who unloaded his Tesla there. He hadn't eaten yet either. I charge the Tesla to 98% and drive to the hotel. There are already a few having a drink and I give them each, like every other driver who comes in, a copy of Supercharged, the TeslaClubBE lifestyle magazine. After a pint I go to the room at a quarter past eleven to type this report.

Total today: 1028 km, 243.3 kWh, average 237 Wh/km.

April 16th

06:45 alarm clock, shower, breakfast. At 08:00 we leave for the arena. Once there, we line up the Tesla's for a photo and begin the process of assigning families to the cars. I get a family from Pokrovsk in the Donetsk area, with husband, Alexy, his wife and 2 sons, Yvan aged 14, Yevgen aged 5, who is somewhat ill and mother Tamara. This procedure is taking longer than 3 weeks ago because the police needs to check the passengers, my papers, my breath and the car. They do this car by car, so this will take a very long time. Fortunately, it's my turn in third place and we can leave at 09:20. We do this with the three of us; Marianne, Ronald and I. Because it will be close whether we will make it to Berlin, we agree to drive only 125 per hour. This turns out to be a good tactic because we arrive 1. first of the group at the Van der Valk supercharger and 2. with more than 8% left in the battery. However, Ronald first visits the Ionity charger just before the border and arrives at the hotel about 20 minutes later. When asked why Alexy is allowed to leave Ukraine, the answer is that he has a disability. He works in the coal mines and his lungs are bad as a result and he has a bad back. Tamara works in a women's clothing store, but it is now closed. They fled a week ago after the station in their neighboring municipality was bombed, which was in the news last week, where about 50 people were killed.

Data: 10°, consumption 58.3 kWh, average 229 Wh/km, distance 254.7 km, duration 02:20, average speed 109 km/h.

We go into the hotel to pee and I offer them the food, but they decline. They've already eaten something in the car, they say, but I think it's modesty. Anyway, I'll have a coffee with croquettes and bread. I can convince them to have a coffee which Tamara and Alexy accept. The boys drink tea.

At 12:50 pm we continue our journey and almost two hours later we arrive at the next supercharger in Lehre. This was a quiet ride. The boys are asleep, Tamara takes a nap and Alexy is slumped back, even with his eyes closed now and then. The sun is shining, the Tesla is buzzing, the view is ok. So no problem.

Data: 13°, consumption 53.9 kWh, average 253 Wh/km, distance 213 km, duration 1:50, average speed 116 km/h.

It's becoming monotone :) 2 hours and 25 minutes later the next supercharger, Lippetal, is necessary, mainly because of the maximum speed the Tesla is allowing to use autopilot, which is 150. I feel that my passengers are tired, they sleep a lot and don't say a lot either anymore. Again, no problem :). I'm bringing this family to Breda, where there is a refugee center, and on Tuesday they are going to Kloosterzande in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen. Alexy is asking me if I know what kind of jobs will be available there. Oei, that's something I'm not familiar with, I think of mussels and picking of vegetables on the land and greenhouses. Next question is what they can earn. Another one which I don't know the answer to. This makes me realise that these people are fleeing for the war, but also full of energy to start a new life. A good sign. I'm sure they will manage in Holland. At the supercharger I made a nice love picture of the parents.

Data: 17°, consumption 57,2 kWh, average 250 Wh/km, distance 229 km, duration 1:40, average speed 137 km/h.

The same story as above, a monotone ride with the sun in my face, at least ☺. Alexy shows me a message saying their factory has been hit by missiles. Well, they made a good decision to get out of there. We arrive at the supercharger in Tilburg, where I now manage to get them something to eat. We go into the restaurant where we have soup and salad. They enjoyed it.

Data: 16°, consumption 50,5 kWh, average 220 Wh/km, distance 230 km, duration 01:55, average speed 120 km/h.

At 21:00 we leave for a 15-minute drive to the shelter in Breda. Arriving there it turns out that they know nothing about this family, which seems to be normal. The Ukrainians can come here whenever they want. While I take a coffee they are registered and a doctor is arranged for the 5 year old sick boy. I say goodbye to everyone with a warm hug and I am promised that I will be very welcome in Pokrovsk after the war. At 21:30 I leave for the last part home, where I arrive at 22:45.

Total: 2100 km, consumption 493.7 kWh, average 235 Wh/km (same as 3 weeks ago).

My first trip to Poznan with teslawensrit.nl

March 18, 2022

As a member of the Tesla forum I read a message from the Dutch foundation teslawensrit.nl in which they described that they had driven to Poland with Teslas to firstly bring Ukrainian refugees to a host family in The Netherlands and secondly to take full Teslas to Poland to deliver relief supplies. They have already done this twice in the weekend of 12 and 19 March.

March 22nd

I signed up and after a short email exchange and phone call with the organiser I was admitted to the WhatsApp group in which all details of the trip are discussed. When asked if I could take one of my many Ukrainian colleagues with me as an interpreter, the response was negative because they prefer to keep that place available for a refugee.

In order not to arrive in Poland empty-handed, or rather with an empty Tesla, I appealed to various WhatsApp groups and the local Facebook group Druivenstreek Verniet to collect relief goods. There were a lot of reactions to this, especially from Druivenstreek Verniet. The president of my cycling club is trying to get me into the Makro in Poznan because my colleagues gave me a large sum of money that I can spend on the necessary relief supplies, which are cheaper in Poland than in Belgium.

March 23

I pick up the first aid supplies in the morning before and in the evening after work. During my working hours  a lot of goods are also brought to home:

Disposable crockery, cutlery, plates, garbage bags, paper drinking cups, water bottles, a Nintendo Wii, lots of women's and girls' clothing, shoes for women and girls, suitcases (7 in total), travel bag, pram, doll carriages, lots of towels, lots of cosmetics (a suitcase full), a rocking horse, toys. See the link below for the photo album.

I organise it in the evening in such a way that it can be used as much as possible and that it will take up as little space as possible in my Tesla. After an online meeting with the organisation, further agreements are made and I go to sleep after midnight.

March 24

After getting up, I immediately turn on the PC and open Facebook and Whatsapp to be able to collect even more goods. Then I start my online working day. During a break I drove to work where there were remains of the Eurocontrol for Ukraine action. I could take the most urgently needed stuff with me, together with a bag full of children underwear, shampoo and winterjacket from colleague Maurice. Lots of locals, via the Facebook group, came to my house to bring even more stuff. On the pictures you can see the progress of filling up the car.

My cycling club president managed to get me an accesscard to the Makro in Poznan, so I'll spend the big amount of money collected by my colleagues on necessary aid.

The last items are being delivered and being picked up. Finally the car is fully packed and charged. Time for bed. Talk to you tomorrow. 

March 25

04:00 alarm, shower and I leave at 04:30

Two hours and fifteen minutes later I arrive at the first Tesla Supercharger of the day in Kamen, just past Dortmund. For the Tesla enthusiasts; consumption of 64,3 kWh over 283 km = 227 Wh/km, Soc from 100 to 5%. At the Mc Do I get a very large coffee. Here you still need to wear a mask, which I didn't have on me, but the manager gave me one on request. After one hour of charging, at 08:15, both electricity and coffee I continue my trip to the next supercharger in Lehre, where I'll meet the other Dutch Tesla drivers.

After another two hours of driving/flying I arrived at the supercharger in Lehre with a remaining SoC of 3%, while I've started with 94%. An average consumption of 240 Wh/km over 257 km which makes 61,6 kWh used. Averagelly more than the trip just before. Reason being that on some parts of the trip there was no speedlimit ;) In Lehre there were already 3 Tesla drivers. I drank a coffee and had some sandwiches. More drivers arrived and we more or less agreed that everybody goes its own way to Poznan. 

This time a short ride, just 1 hour and 45 minutes, to the last supercharger before the destination. Although we departed with 5 with the intention to drive together it turned out quickly that it is not that comfortable; driving together. Also the fact that an ICE is joining us, and that 150k/h is too costly for that gasguggling machine. After half an hour we all drive on our own :) This supercharger is located just south of Berlin around 100 km before the Polish border. There is a Van der Valk hotel where I use the wifi for this blog. Data: from 92 to 16%, 214 km, 52,4 kWh = 245 Wh/km. When I get back to the Tesla, there's a white Model X next to me with a Ukrainian number plate. When asked whether they are going to or from Ukraine, I get the answer that they are also on their way to Poznan. They are from Kiev, but had already gone to Germany before and now, just like us, to Poznan to pick up (their) compatriots as well. They are also loaded with relief supplies. I leave and because I am close to Tesla's new Giga factory in Brandenburg, Berlin, I decide to detour about 15 km to see the factory from the outside. I try to get close to the factory, which is still under construction, but am sent out by security. Then I just take a picture from the parking lot with Giga in the background. On the navigation I see a traffic jam looming and decide to open Waze. That's my salvation, because I have to take the exit right away to win 20 minutes. As I take the exit I see Pieter driving past and tell him to take the exit too, but he is just too late to answer. 10 minutes later he comes to the next charger, an Ionity in Swiecko that is free. All the Dutch go there! :) When we arrive, Erik is already there and I'm the second to plug in. So Pieter and Alex are just too late. At 4:10 pm I continue driving with a SoC of 93%.

The onward journey to Poznan is on a perfect highway. I didn't really expect it to be honest. I have to adjust my idea of ​​modern Poland a bit ;) Although the roads in the city are of a much lesser quality... You are allowed 140 per hour here, which I do in a leisurely way. In Poznan I drive directly to the congress center where we can unload our stuff. I've only seen 5 Teslas during the entire trip, but here at the convention center and shelter for 900 refugees there are suddenly three times that number. Except me all with a Dutch license plate :) It's busy here, children running back and forth, mothers walking around with more or less dejected faces , along with us, the Dutch from Teslawensrit who hope to do good. The goods are unloaded and placed on pallets in front of the building. I have to go to the bathroom and for that I have to go all the way through the convention center for the toilet. Only then do I see how this is arranged. The center is a gigantic hall, type Heysel palaces, divided into rooms where about 20 beds are next to each other in two rows. So forty beds for 40 people; women with children, because indeed men only make up 1% of the total. I estimate there are about 20 rooms, making a total of about 800 people. Next week this will even be expanded to 2000 people. So it is necessary that people leave here to make room. Tomorrow we will only be able to take a small part with us to The Netherlands. Outside, the Model Xs put on a light show with their falconwing doors and lights, much to the delight of the little ones. Sometimes there is even a smile on the women's faces! Caritas, the NGO that organises the reception and distribution, gives us a tour in this large complex. In it I become aware that most stay here from 3 to 7 days before being taken care of elsewhere. However, most would like to stay here because they hope that the war will soon be over and that they can return home soon. Although the building and facilities, such as beds, mattresses, blankets, toilets, etc., are financed by the local government, Caritas, as an NGO, receives no aid from the state. So they have to do it purely on donations and voluntary work. That is why they are very happy with foundations and non-profit organisations such as those of teslawensrit.nl. After the tour I ask the Caritas representative if he would like to make a list of the most necessary items they need, because I have 1025 euros, collected by my colleagues, to spend! Thanks again Yellow team!! And thanks to my cycling team chairman, I even have access to the Makro. I'm driving there together with another Tesla driver, Eric. After fifteen minutes we arrive there where my Makro card is ready. I even get guidance from 2 servants who go through the list made by Patrick, the Caritas responsible, in Polish. In the photos you can see what has been bought. We were able to fill three of those big carts and with 2 fully loaded Teslas  we drive back to the shelter. Unloaded there, with the help of the boys who are not yet asleep, it is now 20:30. Then I drive to the hotel where I checked in and started with this report during dinner. The rest of teslawensrit were in another restaurant but I didn't go to them because I was too hungry. It is now 10 pm and I still have to charge the Tesla. I'm lucky because on arrival a Tesla is leaving so that I can get the last place. In the meantime, the rest of the NL Teslas also trickle in and after an hour of charging I leave for the hotel again.

Local press link. 

Total driven today: 1060 km, used 249 kWh, average 235 Wh/km.

 

March 26

06:30 wake up, shower, breakfast and at 08:00 we drive to the pick up location. This one is different from yesterday's convention center to avoid situations like people suddenly wanting to join and other discussions. This other location is a large sports hall where many have also been accommodated. 59 Lucky ones are allowed to join the 17 Teslas of our group. When we arrive there, we are first checked by the police; alcohol check, auto insurance papers and driver's license, all of which are being checked. Imagine you still have a fine outstanding in Poland ;) I eventually get Maria and Milena with me. Maria is 30 and Milena 3 years and 5 months. They come from Dnipro and had to leave their husband and father behind. He is doing well and their house is still intact. There is not much communication (yet), but Google Translate helps. At 09:15 we leave with all Tesla's in convoy. On the highway, the difference in battery capacity quickly becomes apparent. The X's are the first victim and decide to look for the Ionity charger before the border. The 3s are quite comfortable in terms of distance. I don't have a problem in the beginning, partly because we drive in convoy, which turns out to be economical. However, as soon as I come alone, I needlessly followed another S that had to stop at a Greenway charging station, it appears that my consumption is skyrocketing. So it's a bit of range-axienty. When we cross the border, Milana sees windmills, probably for the first time in her life. Her mother is also surprised about the wind farm. Finally, with 8 km left in the 'tank', I arrive at the Supercharger in Berlin. There it is a gathering of all Teslas. Irish people are also on their way with a group of 13 Teslas. So it's crowded here. After about half an hour of charging and a bit of snacking, we continue. However, just before we want to continue, Maria reports that she is not feeling well. Before departure I get a box with travel pills from Joost and we can continue at 13:00.

271 km, 59.3 kWh, 219 Wh/km, 88-1%

We now drive with 4; a 3, 2 S and a Porsche Macan. Yes, this Porsche driver also has his heart in the right place. We maintain a maximum speed of 140 so as not to make the whirlpool in the Porsche's tank too big. Milana immediately falls asleep. This allows me to communicate a little more with Maria. Her husband is a real estate agent, but now out of work and sitting out the war at home. He has not yet been called up to fight. Maria herself is a designer of balloons and immediately after the start of the war she drove to Wroclaw in Poland by car, which took her 5 days. Yesterday she was brought from Wroclaw to Poznan to go with me to the Netherlands today. She goes to Nederweert. On the way I call the host family and they are introduced to each other via video. After a two hour drive we arrive at the next supercharger in Lehre. Here too we meet our fellow travelers. Milana seems to be fond of burgers and we go to the BurgerKing. In the end she only eats the fries. Here I say goodbye to the other Tesla drivers because we are now going to continue further south. At 16:00 we continue driving with 97% SoC.

212 km, 50.4 kWh, 237 W/km, 84-7%

At 17:40 we arrive at the next supercharger Lippetal, between Bielefeld and Dortmund. The last charge before I drop off Maria and Milana in Nederweert. So, this fast ride over 229 km, consumes 59.5 kWh with an average of 260 Wh/km, SoC from 97-11%. That's mainly because I drove 150 where I could, the maximum speed that autopilot allows. There is not a cross word from Milana, she is doing very well. I don't notice much about Maria either. She is not a talker but that will also be due to the language, she only speaks English a little. I think it also helps that they are in constant contact via WhatsApp, Viber and Telegram with the home front, especially with her husband. Maria shows her balloon creations. That goes a bit further than any street clown can achieve. They are really beautiful things, if I do say so myself :) (Insta: buket.shar). I'm not going to ask her if she's been through any horrors, she'll just have to come forward with that herself. So, all in all, I don't get to know much about her. But that's fine by me. Even me, a rather cool and emotionless person, feel something. No tears, no, but there is something 'blooming'. 

At 18:30 we leave for their last part and we race with 150 for an hour and a half on the German autobahn. In the end I get to see Maria's husband while they are video calling him. He will not be in service until the war reaches Dnipro. At 20:00 we arrive at the family in Nederweert. This is a father and mother who live together in 2 different houses with their daughter and husband. A warm family at first sight who will take good care of Maria and Milana. All their daughter's toys had been preserved and Milana immediately dived into the play area and I never saw her leave until I tried to say goodbye to her. She was too busy with the toys to say hello to me. Maria gave me a big hug to say goodbye. After a cup of coffee I left half an hour later to make my last charging stop in Urmond.

86-10%, km, 52,5 kWh, 236 Wh/km 220 km.

At 21:30 I start my last part of this very exciting journey.

So, my humanitarian task for this weekend is done...

 

At 22:30 I arrive at home. Tired but very satisfied! 
SoC: 81-47 %, 106 k2m, 22,4 kWh, 211 Wh/km.

Total driven these 2 days: 2098 km, used 493 kWh, average 235 Wh/km.

 

Simon