I Would Add One Item for Consideration

[peristaltor]

Just read a very revealing opinion piece about the BBC show Top Gear faking electric car breakdowns. They're being sued by electric car maker Tesla for trying to pretend a car that can usually drive hundreds of miles on a charge only managed 55. It looks like they repeated the prank with a new Leaf

Comments

[theweaselking]

By the same logic, they should be trashing the Ferrarri or they won't get the new Aston Martin. And they should be faking breakdowns of the Aston Martin or they'll never get a new Rolls.

Not only is that argument bullshit, but it misses the real point: It violates the Beeb's rules to do this. If giving an accurate review to an electric car will tank their show, then the only thing they are allowed to do under BBC rules is not review the electric car at all

[peristaltor]

Nope, not complete bullshit. The high-end cars are made in such small numbers that while they do compete with each other, pretty much all models are backed by bigger companies that can whip out a legal team against TG should they play unfair favorites. Tesla can't, it's simply too small. We'll see if Nissan can. That could be interesting.

What the Ferrarri/Martin comparison lacks to the electrics of any flavor is tech. As long as it is powered by gas (or diesel), it doesn't threaten the established infrastructure of dealerships, mechanics, supply lines, etc. This is why electric cars are described as a disruptive technology, in that they will by their very nature disrupt the established businesses, just as Netflix disrupted Blockbuster almost to the latter's grave.