The US is massive. That supercharger map shows vast regions of the US with almost no superchargers and entire long-haul highway systems with none at all. And some of these are highways I travel on. If you actually know the highway system in the US, that supercharger network map is a joke. Maybe in another decade it will be something close to having decent coverage but that map is stark evidence of its deficiency for many people.
Sure, there are a lot of superchargers on many parts of the coast. They have always been available where I live and I have a Tesla charger in my home. But the US is a continent sized country. Pretending the inconvenient parts don’t exist doesn’t make them go away.
I am always astonished at how dismissive some people are at the practical concerns of Americans that don’t solely live in an insular coastal metro. It isn’t a good look and needlessly invites resentment.
The problem is you’re arguing today and I’m arguing the next ten years. The Supercharger network has grown wildly since I bought my S in 2018 (and have driven it cross country over the last six years, mostly on Superchargers), and as long as it keeps up with EV uptake, that is good enough. It does not need to be perfect, and someone will always find a complaint. Sell to people who will buy, ignore people who will find excuses not to.
As long as Tesla can sell every vehicle they build and continue to drag legacy automakers to an EV future, individual opinions of the network are of low value. It was of enough value for major automakers to know they couldn’t succeed without it.
In ten years, I might not disagree. Today, there are many parts of the US where many people would be idiots to buy an EV. Many people would be fine with EVs today, but that probably isn’t the case for a large percentage of Americans.
Sure, there are a lot of superchargers on many parts of the coast. They have always been available where I live and I have a Tesla charger in my home. But the US is a continent sized country. Pretending the inconvenient parts don’t exist doesn’t make them go away.
I am always astonished at how dismissive some people are at the practical concerns of Americans that don’t solely live in an insular coastal metro. It isn’t a good look and needlessly invites resentment.