Ride Share in a Tesla to Palm Springs

Leave the driving between Los Angeles and Palm Springs or Las Vegas to someone else, starting at $79 and $129 each way, respectively, in a tricked-out Tesla Model X SUV.
Tesloop service (which isn’t affiliated with electric car innovator Tesla Motors) takes you from Southern California to destinations around Palm Springs and Las Vegas for a set price.
The deal: You reserve one of five seats in the Tesloop all-electric SUV, just as you would book an airline seat.

You can travel from L.A. or Orange County at set pickup and drop-off locations listed on the website. Tesloop serves, among other locations, Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Indio and — wait for it, music lovers — Coachella.

It also goes to hotel-casino destinations in Las Vegas.
With Tesloop, the “pilot” does the driving, so you can enjoy amenities like free Wi-Fi, phone charging, snacks and drinks, and even, a company news release says, “curated musical selections and noise canceling headphones.” If you want to sleep, grab a pillow — there are five types to choose from.

When: The service is offered indefinitely.
Tested: I have not taken a spin with Tesloop, but I did go online to check out the booking experience. As a test, I selected a ride from the Luxe City Center Hotel  in downtown L.A. to the Palm Springs Convention Center. I then selected a time and date — I had a choice of 6:40 a.m. or 8:10 p.m. on Oct. 14, for example — and reserved the front seat.

The price was $79, which seemed reasonable to me. Uber, which picks you up and drops you off wherever you like, shows an online L.A.-Palm Springs price estimate of $101 in an Uber X and $474 in an Uber SUV.

Info: Tesloop, (818) 330-6446, www.tesloop.com