There’s no question that Elon Musk is a smart guy. He founded SpaceX and co-founded both PayPal and the electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla Motors. We think we might have pinpointed where he went wrong, though.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/301070979029934080
We don’t count on the New York Times to be fair, at least when it comes to political coverage, but you’d think the Times would want to make an electric car look as good as possible. Today, though, Musk is calling out writer John Broder’s account of his trip in a Tesla Model S sedan with a word no journalist wants to hear: fake. In his article titled, “Stalled Out on Tesla’s Electric Highway,” Broder wrote about his “creeping range anxiety” as he watched the Tesla’s estimated mileage plummet in a snap of cold weather. Musk says that’s fiction, and he has logs to prove it.
Tesla blog coming soon detailing what actually happened on Broder's NYTimes "range test". Also lining up other journalists to do same drive.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 11, 2013
Tesla data logging is only turned on with explicit written permission from customers, but after Top Gear BS, we always keep it on for media.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 11, 2013
Btw, more free East Coast Superchargers coming soon. Will allow lower initial charge, v high speed trip & long detours, like NYTimes drive.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 11, 2013
Not many people have driven a Tesla; even green celebs like Mark Ruffalo found themselves on a long waiting list. Many who have driven one, however, offer their own anecdotes.
@elonmusk: Wondered about NYTimes article. My S & I have done 400+ mile 1day drives at full speed & w heat/AC w superchargers & no problems.
— Jason Knapp (@JasonJKnapp) February 11, 2013
@elonmusk My niece has one and has reported nothing like what appeared in the NYTimes.
— Doug Hageman (@A_C_R) February 11, 2013
@elonmusk Just drove 800 miles with my Model S between NJ, NYC and Boston in 48 hours with absolutly no problems using superchargers. Fake!
— Lars Thomsen (@Thomsen_Lars) February 11, 2013
@elonmusk I drive a Model S every day and I am happy to talk to ANYONE on your behalf if I can be of service.
— Tony Quarantino (@tomleykis) February 11, 2013
“Fake” is a strong accusation, and Broder’s detailed account of his road trip — part of which took place in a tow truck when the Tesla’s battery died — seems real enough. Musk says that Broder blatantly ignored the company’s instructions given over the phone.
@elonmusk Are you saying that Tesla reps did not field multiple phone calls from Broder throughout his drive? http://t.co/M9zjqEjI
— Nick Judd (@nclarkjudd) February 11, 2013
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/301083933137854464
Hmm, one of the Times’ leading environmental writers wanted the car to look bad? In any case, a lot of people are anxious to get on the highway and test that car. Plenty of journalists and bloggers jumped at Musk’s offer to take a chance with their own test drive.
@elonmusk I'd jump at the chance to take a test drive for @quartznews
— Tim Fernholz (@TimFernholz) February 11, 2013
My man, we would LOVE it @peHUB if you'd let us get those keys. @elonmusk Happy to test drive… (Plus we cover your GPs).
— Jon Marino (@JonMarino) February 11, 2013
@elonmusk If you're looking for journalists for testing the Model S – sign me up.
— Gloria Lloyd (@glorialloyd) February 11, 2013
@elonmusk I would like to volunteer my journalist services to do the drive.
— Buster Hein (@bst3r) February 11, 2013
@elonmusk I can be that journalist
— Seth Weintraub (@llsethj) February 11, 2013
https://twitter.com/stevekovach/status/301058669632684032
@elonmusk Hi Elon. @BloombergNews would also be interested in a re-test drive, maybe we can even form a rally with some other EVs?
— Ehren Goossens (@ehreng) February 11, 2013
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/301058511406768128
Tesla chief technology officer J.B. Straubel told Broder, “It takes more planning than a typical gasoline car, no way around it.”
https://twitter.com/Satinsilence/status/301086815807475712
Just what did Broder write last spring? At the time, he said “the state of the electric car is dismal, the victim of hyped expectations, technological flops, high costs and a hostile political climate.”
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/301101119948611587
The Times is standing by its story, issuing the following statement:
The Times’s February 10 article recounting a reporter’s test drive in a Tesla Model S was completely factual, describing the trip in detail exactly as it occurred. Any suggestion that the account was “fake” is, of course, flatly untrue. Our reporter followed the instructions he was given in multiple conversations with Tesla personnel. He described the entire drive in the story; there was no unreported detour. And he was never told to plug the car in overnight in cold weather, despite repeated contact with Tesla.
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