Porsche Executive Credits Tesla With Proving An EV Market Exists

Porsche Cars North America president and CEO Klaus Zellmer recently shared his insights about what he perceives to be the upcoming widespread adoption of electric cars. In an op-ed published on USA Today, Zellmer argued that the demand for electric vehicles is definite at this point, and it will only be a matter of time before the United States’ roads are filled with EVs.

While the Porsche CEO continues to prepare for the arrival of the Taycan, he nonetheless gave credit to Tesla for making “inroads” in the push for battery-electric vehicles. Zellmer argued that Tesla has all but proven that there is “significant demand” for electric cars, particularly those which combine sustainability with performance and design.

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Car4life1 - 6/19/2019 11:32:41 AM

-2 Boost

Last I checked no automotive journalist were jumping at the chance to review Nissan Leafs or drag race them with luxury/super cars, capturing millions of views/clicks worldwide, jumping on month’s long waiting list and paying upwards of $100k for certain trim levels.

Tesla got everyone’s attention from top to bottom whether you like them or not, no luxury maker cared about the Leaf, Tesla got the industry excited for EVs, with performance destroying fossil fuels vehicle and a design that doesn’t completely put u to sleep like a Leaf, Prius, or i3.

Tesla has plenty of flaws, problems, shortcomings and so on but the Porsche exec is right, no one grabbed the attention of the auto world for EV’s like Tesla, and I’m excited for all the competition to come.

It’s a good for consumers to have more options and company’s fighting for their business/loyalty

SanJoseDriver - 6/21/2019 7:15:00 PM

+1 Boost

A Leaf is a decent car that happens to be electric, but it didn't have great range or push tech until the latest version. Tesla came out the door EVs that were faster and better performing than their ICE counterparts with incredible range and tech that got better over time. They elevated the stakes instead of building compliance cars.

Also, there were 0 EVs with over 200 miles of range until Tesla. The EVs 100 years ago went 40 miles and 40 mph, not exactly the same thing.

Truthy - 6/19/2019 11:18:25 AM

+4 Boost

You can buy a decent Honda Civic or Mazda 3 for roughly $20 K that will have over 300 miles of range and fill up in minutes.
It will be nearly impossible for EVs to get to this price level. It will remain an expensive luxury toy for the foreseeable future.

SanJoseDriver - 6/21/2019 7:17:16 PM

+1 Boost

Do you have any option to fill up that Civic with free gas? How much maintenance do you have to do in the first 4 years? Those are relevant questions.

I think we will see legit EVs in the $20k range with 200+ miles of range, which is really all most people need even for long distance travelling. I'm hoping the new VW EVs will hit that.

Truthy - 6/25/2019 2:00:29 PM

+1 Boost

The free charging stations are few and far between, so it is irrelevent for this discussion. Government welfare will disappear for EVs as the need [sic] to jump start the industry is gone. Once the creditas and tax incentives are gone and states start taxing EVs like Illinois ($1000/year) that $20,000 EV you see in your cannibus haze remains non-exixtent.