Tesla introduced Tuesday that it’ll lay off everybody who works on each the brand new car and Supercharger groups. At this level, nobody has any thought what CEO Elon Musk was pondering or what’s going to occur going ahead. Together with different automakers that not too long ago switched to NACS. Perhaps Musk is simply seeking to get out of the charging recreation? If that’s the case, then it have to be a current growth as a result of, as Politico studies, Tesla can be the one greatest benefactor of federal EV charging grants from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Regulation.
Out of all of the EV charging grants which were handed out to this point, Tesla reportedly gained virtually 13 p.c of them, totaling greater than $17 million. Contemplating that the Tesla Supercharger community is at present one of the best community within the nation, that’s not essentially a foul factor. And with the offers Tesla struck to permit non-Teslas to make use of Superchargers, we’re virtually stunned that determine isn’t increased. There are many issues that Tesla does unsuitable, however its charging community positively isn’t one among them.
Then once more, maybe Tesla wasn’t awarded extra grants to keep away from making it appear to be the federal authorities is lining Tesla’s pockets or making a state-funded monopoly. As Politico factors out, 13 p.c of all grants awarded is unlikely to immediate any antitrust claims.
Tesla doesn’t simply have a bonus due to the community it’s already constructed, both. Along with proposing bigger charging hubs than a lot of its competitors, Tesla additionally builds them for lots much less cash. That $17 million that it was awarded was for 41 charging stations, whereas Oklahoma-based Francis Power reportedly wanted $30.4 million to construct 37 stations.
The irony, in fact, is that whereas Tesla is more than pleased to take the federal authorities’s cash, its CEO has spent months tweeting about how Biden is ruining the nation, calling him “a moist [sock] puppet in human type” whereas additionally actively engaged in finishing up the Nice Alternative Concept, an extremely racist far-right conspiracy that claims immigrants are going to wipe out the white race.
If Musk had any rules, you’d suppose he would have refused the damp sock puppet’s cash, however everyone knows Musk doesn’t have any rules past doing what he needs at any given second. Extra importantly, although, it makes Musk’s resolution to fireside all the Supercharger group much more complicated. Tesla was in an unbelievable place to maintain being awarded extra grants, clearly had curiosity in persevering with to construct out the Supercharger community, and now, simply, what? Gave up?
Perhaps Musk plans to rent a model new Supercharger group. Perhaps Tesla simply plans to let the Superchargers go to fallow. Perhaps there’s one thing we’re lacking right here, however in the event you’re confused, simply know you’re removed from the one one.
This text initially appeared on Jalopnik.
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