The Great Tesla and Elon Musk Debate
Are Tesla and Elon Musk Ever Going to Shape up? Do They Need to?
Tesla is just one of those companies that spark strong emotions in people, both good and bad. The company was launched in 2003 and Elon Musk jumped in the following year with some much-needed capital. The initial idea was to create eco-friendly cars and sell them to the masses. They started with a sporty version which was a lot more expensive than everybody had hoped. Next, the Model S scooted into existence and became the first practical electric vehicle that was marketed to the masses. Still, it was (and still is) crazy expensive. I guess this is for the same reasons organic food is unaffordable and McDonald’s is cheap as chips. Finally, Model 3 arrived. At long last, it’s the cost-effective electric car the world has been waiting for. Or is it?
Tesla — Evil Technological Tyrant or the Future of the World?
When Tesla first became a hot topic in the media, I honestly thought it was a luxury fad that would pave the way for ‘real’ technology in the far future but probably blow over long before that. I was immediately skeptical. We all know how bad mobile phone batteries are, surely lithium-ion car batteries would cost an absolute fortune to replace over the years. I think we’d be better off waiting for better technology before even attempting something like this. Then there’s the matter of range, something Tesla and other EV manufacturers are working on, but not nearly fast enough.
Tesla Cars Also Have Major Issues
Close to 38% of Tesla Model S owners have reported problems with the car’s lights, suspension system and cruise control system. And it’s not just electronic issues, Tesla has managed to squeeze in some mechanical problems as well — like power steering failure, dead windscreen wipers and poorly designed door handles. Not to mention the windows and charging plugs tend to get stuck. Unless they live in the tropics, most drivers like the idea of being able to close the window when they choose to. Sadly, it’s also not just the Model S. Model 3 has not fared well in consumer reports and its reliability is questioned after owners experienced issues with body hardware. And yet, owner satisfaction surveys keep coming in with glowing praise.
There are Thousands of Really Happy Tesla Owners out There
What a weird duality. Considering all the problems associated with Tesla cars, it’s really odd that a staggering 92% of Tesla owners say they’d buy a Tesla all over again if they could go back in time. Are they brainwashed in some way? Or is there something special about the Tesla I’m somehow not seeing? Besides problems with the car itself, there are other massive issues like:
- Lithium is a limited natural resource and becoming increasingly hard to source, as are the other rare minerals needed to produce the batteries EVs need.
- Yet another essential ingredient, cobalt, is wrapped up in controversy. It’s not only dangerous to work with, mining of it has also been linked with child labor.
- There is a risk of electrolyte spillage from leaking batteries which can cause skin sores and inflammation.
- Not to mention another serious danger: the risk of electrocution.
- The infrastructure for recycling these batteries simply does not exist as yet.
- And of course, no more long road trips.
So (Even Though Owners Love it) the Cars Kind of Suck. But What about Elon Musk?
Just like with Tesla, there is no in-between when it comes to Elon Musk. People either love the man or hate him with a passion. A couple of my petrol head buddies and I were hashing it out over a barbecue fire the other night and there were strong feelings in both directions. The discussion got really interesting and touched on extremes in all direction. One of us made a believable argument as to why the billionaire should be the next president. A few beers in and Musk was either an alien or was teleported here from the future.
The Truth is, the Future is Now and we Have Elon Musk to Thank for Some of it
I find myself swinging between the two extremes. How can you stay upset with a man who’s on a mission to take the human race to space?! AND he’s putting his money where his mouth is with millions invested in SpaceX. What’s more, while we’re still confined to the planet Musk is doing his level best to bring space-age technology to us with self-driving cars and now even neural implants that link us to AI. Who knows, maybe we’ll all be driving our cars with our neural implants in years to come? But for now, I’m more than happy sticking to my petrol-guzzling machines complete with manual gear changes. Bring on the inefficiency!
