Learning to Drive Archives - Bright Red L Driving School

February 6, 2023February 8, 2023

Tesla Model 3, It’s Different

Driving a Tesla Model 3, is the screen safe?

Over many years, more than I care to admit here, I’ve driven many cars. It’s usually reasonably easy to get into another and drive away after a quick familiarisation. When confronted with a new car experienced drivers usually find the switches and familiar controls easily. However, Driving a Tesla Model 3, it’s different.

The main difference in a Tesla is the large screen containing almost every control and all of the driver information. Should we be concerned about the safety of this technology?

January 5, 2023February 8, 2023

Tesla Model 3 Training Car

The New Training Car Has Arrived

The Bright Red L now uses a Tesla Model 3 training car, continuing the commitment to training in an EV.

Tesla Model 3 Training car. Automatic driving lessons in Portsmouth.

The new training car is here after nearly four years using Nissan Leaf EVs as training cars. The new training car is a Tesla Model 3. The Leafs have both been brilliant even as an ageing design in the EV world. When considering the replacement for a training car I kept coming back to the Tesla Model 3. There are many more EVs available now, even compared to two years ago, however, none seemed to offer much more than a Tekna specification Leaf. None could offer a charging experience the Tesla Supercharger network offers either.

April 16, 2019December 21, 2020

It’s Electric and Automatic

I,ve been teaching in automatic cars since 2006 and moving to the Nissan Leaf electric car I find it has much in common with my previous automatics. Learners notice no difference in driving it and lessons are the same as in a fossil fuelled car, except for the wonderful smooth silence you get with electric cars.

April 5, 2019December 21, 2020

Electric Driving Test Passes

Electric Driving Test Pass 1 — Shannon the first electric pass

This week has sen the first two tests in the Electric Instructor Nissan Leaf at the Portsmouth Driving Test Centre. Both were passes.

First Time Pass

The first test was Shannon who passed first time after four months of weekly lessons. She was looking forward to the weekend when she could go car shopping.

February 27, 2019December 21, 2020

A Week of Electric Lessons

It’s been an interesting first week of teaching in my Nissan Leaf electric car. Learners really like driving it and it brings up some interesting thoughts about teaching in EVs and what effect they will have on our roads.

When first encountering the MK1 Leaf Learners are impressed with it’s slightly whacky looks and the high specification interior, it’s the higher Tekna specification with a full leather interior. Turning it on brings up the space age display with lot’s of information about charge and range not seen before in a car and it sings a little tune. The speedo is a large numeric one so easily seen once it’s pointed out. Having come from a hybrid car, my learners are used to silence when pressing the power switch. I don’t really consider it a start button when a motor doesn’t start.

August 14, 2018December 26, 2020

Electric Instructor

Coming soon – the diary and adventures of a driving instructor using an electric car. Probably the first UK instructor to use an electric car and rely on the emerging public charging network.