In a move as predictable as the astonishing acceleration of a Tesla, fans of the electric car brand have been up in arms over Bill Gates’ decision to buy something else.
Speaking to technology YouTuber Marques Brownlee in an interview published this week, the Microsoft co-founder revealed he had recently bought his first electric car - a Porsche Taycan.
When told about this by a Tesla fan on Twitter, Elon Musk said: “My conversations with Gates have been underwhelming tbh [to be honest].”
Replies to the Musk tweet were predictably lacking in compromise from both sides of the Porsche/Tesla debate, and naturally a few cheap shots were fired for good measure.
“You want to be underwhelmed? Call Tesla customer service,” suggested one person, with a Tesla owner chiming in: Tesla ownership is a nightmare, especially service, and since the scrapyards can’t sell salvaged parts my insurance rates are through the roof. Thanks Elon.”
Tesla fans criticized ill-fated iPod rival the Microsoft Zune, and highlighted the Porsche Taycan’s lack of range compared to Teslas. A sliver of respite came when Musk was asked if he can jump over a chair (complete with a gif of Gates famously doing so). “True, that was pretty impressive,” Musk admitted.
If it’s possible to sweep Musk’s latest Twitter spat to one side for a moment, what we have left is a question for well-healed potential electric car owners: Tesla Model S or Porsche Taycan?
True, they are of similar size and similar accelerative performance when the range-topping version is selected. Their batteries are also of a similar size, and the general layout - seating for five as standard, atop a skateboard chassis with an electric motor on each axle - is shared.
But beyond that they are markedly different. Head to the top of each range and the flagship $187,610 Taycan Turbo S is considerably more expensive than the $99,990 Model S Performance. For that extra cash the Porsche buyers gets a unique two-speed gearbox and 800-volt architecture which promises more sustained high performance and faster charging.
But listing difference isn’t really the point here - and it has already been done to death since the Taycan arrived last year.
Instead, the growing breadth of choice in the electric car market should be welcomed with open arms, not ridiculed.
As the largely soulless electric motor threatens to take away the character of flat-6s, muscular V8s, quirky V10 and buttery-smooth V12s, any manufacturer’s attempt to offer something different - something that isn’t a Tesla or a Prius - should be a sign of progress.
Any buyer’s decision to go against the most popular option should be met with praise, intrigue, and a desire to learn why. Not dismissed as somehow being incorrect.
The auto market is already one of the most diverse, offering everything from a Morgan 3-Wheeler or Caterham, to a Ford F-150 or Mercedes G-Class to buyers looking for a new car. The electric motor is poised to take away a great chunk of choice. So how about we all get along, respect the purchases of others, and be thankful for choice.
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