[mtgx]

Apple managed to maintain their strong lead for a relatively long time by creating the app ecosystem.

Tesla could do the same with their supercharger network, where they offer free charging. Although I think (and hope) that eventually they'll let other car manufacturers "license" access to Tesla's network, and this way they'll be able to not only pay for the maintenance and cost of the network, but also make a bit of money from it, too. They shouldn't charge too much, though. Maybe $100 per car.

By turning the network into an actual business and not just a "cost", they would have to incentive and capital to expand the network all over the world as fast as possible.

And that's how we all get free charging for all cars, forever. Goodbye oil industry.

[neya]

Agreed. But 'Goodbye oil industry' will never happen in the near future. Not with the level of corruption with the top dogs right now. They'll do everything they can to suppress the viable alternatives. They'll buy out the media, pay the right guys to write stories about how unreliable and dangerous these EV's are and why oil based transport is still the best, and so on.

And co-incidentally, I am reminded of the Tesla-BBC fiasco...[1]

[1]http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/10/uk-appeals-court-dismis...

[ericd]

I don't know if you need to ascribe malice there, Clarkson has always hated EVs, even before they were serious contenders.

[neya]

What you hate or like is your personal prerogative. But when you are addressing a public audience, who have faith in you and your brand and trust you, you are morally obliged to be factually correct and not let personal opinions distort the facts. If you read that article, Tesla claims that they forged a scene as if the car just stopped randomly which is highly unlikely when there is enough charge (I am with Elon Musk on this one).

(You doesn't literally mean you, but BBC in this case)

[vidarh]

Clarkson is not a news reporter. He's an entertainer. He is expected to be controversial and opinionated, and - depending on your viewpoint - quite delusional.

If he started being objective and serious, the show would be cancelled. As it in fact was before he pitched the new, less serious, format and convinced the BBC to relaunch the show.

[Shivetya]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but the oil industry is far from just being gasoline and diesel.

Tesla will have to move down market, that will seriously restrict their profit per car. Where they are now with the S is in a price range which is less than twelve percent of the market but provides the majority of many automakers yearly profits. Get down to that below 40k mark and they are going to be in the same boat with everyone else. I doubt we will see a sub 40k car from them for years.

[ricardobeat]

Tesla already has the ability to pay for the supercharger network by selling excess power back to to grid.