The news is filled with stories of city air pollution levels dropping during the recent COVID-19 quarantines. That’s led many people to suggest that post-pandemic EV purchases could help continue the downturn in carbon emissions as more and more restrictions are lifted. Yet, not everyone is a fan of EVs — or even of trend-setting Teslas, for that matter. So, when a typical Tesla naysayer publication prints an article with “a rundown of the pros & cons” of buying a Tesla post-pandemic, it seems worth stopping to take a look.
PRO: Design. Calling Tesla’s electric vehicles “the best-looking EVs on the market, with an aesthetic that’s both venerable and elegant,” BI’s remarks evoked earlier comments from Tesla designer Franz von Holzhausen. He saw the original Model S design as “the epitome of efficiency … a living sculpture, a fluid object.” With the company’s original goal “to modernize the design of the classic sedan silhouette and make it unique to Tesla,” the design team “streamlined the greenhouse (the area enclosed by windows) and stretched it to feel lower and leaner than usual. We wanted it to express speed and motion, even when at rest.”
PRO: Electricity, not gas. With a Tesla, the need to pump gas becomes a thing of the past. We know that touching the gas pump during the COVID-19 contagion has been problematic. The ease of home charging or infrequent Supercharging due to longer range makes Tesla ownership preferable to many auto owners.
PRO: The Supercharger network. Tesla’s Supercharger network has long been seen as one of the biggest draws to the Tesla brand. It not only makes electric life more relaxing, it can even provide an easier road trip than you get in a gasoline car, as many Tesla owners will tell you. Looking at the quick expansion of the network really makes one see how much of a leader Tesla has been and how far it has taken the market from a time when reliable charging was elusive. BI describes how the “extensive, multinational fast-charging network” not only makes long road trips possible, but it’s “an intelligent network, in constant communication with Tesla vehicles so that extended routes can be plotted.”
CON: Charging times. Tesla’s big batteries have a down side, according to BI: they can take a long time to charge. In comparison to a quick gas station stop, this could be an issue in certain circumstances.
CON: Lack of dealerships. Tesla sells its EVs differently from other auto manufacturers: it operates stores and can sell directly to consumers in many US states. BI suggests that the lack of traditional dealerships make the purchase or leasing process more awkward than the traditional process. Editor’s note: This is one of the most laughable claims or insinuations I’ve ever seen about Tesla. The buying experience is so dramatically better than buying through a conventional auto dealer, and everyone seems to know that. The one benefit you might find in some regions regarding dealerships is they may be more accessible (closer) and may perform service more quickly than a Tesla service center. It mostly depends on the region. —Zach
CON: Lack of inventory. According to the company website, Tesla’s factory in Fremont, California, is one of the world’s most advanced automotive plants, with 5.3 million square feet of manufacturing and office space on 370 acres of land. Like many other businesses in the US right now, Tesla has struggled to find a balance of worker safety and active production to meet company goals with this one production site. BI says that Tesla “tends to sell cars as fast as it makes them,” which limits the pre-built inventory from which customer has to choose. A 4-to-6 week delivery time is the norm for the Model 3.
