I Rented A Tesla For A Week And Am Totally Sold On Gas-Powered Cars | After test-driving one for an entire week, we learned we will never buy a Tesla or any electric vehicle as long as we have the option of gas-powered cars or even hybrids.
Good points for discussing with your local EV fanatic.
TL;DR version:
- batteries drain too quickly / range is considerably less than advertised
- length of time needed to charge is very long
- availability of charging stations not good
- some charging stations are in rather sketchy parts of town; personal safety may be an issue when you're stranded there for an hour waiting for your vehicle to charge up
- dependence on complex touch screen and non-intuitive interface seems as dangerous as texting while driving (and the autopilot is too unpredictable to use safely)
- even simple things like locking the door or turning on the windshield wipers is complicated
- no hardcopy manual to consult when you are out of range of a cell signal
- cost of charging with electricity is pretty comparible to what you would pay for gas, so no cost savings
... But pigs will fly before I buy an EV based on my Tesla experience/experiment. This conclusion is not based on a one-hour test drive but on an entire week of driving in an EV-friendly part of the country. ...
All the more reason there will be zero market for old Teslas. Imagine being poor and charging your 15 year old Tesla in the hood. If you buy a Tesla, better trade it in before it gets too old.
While the charging cord is stolen for scrap every night and the charger is vandalized. Bummers.