Smear? The reporter wrote what it's like to drive a modern, electric car.
Now, I'm no fan of the NYT, but neither am I one of Tesla -- a company that's received half a billion in loan guarantees from the Federal Government and has each vehicle it sells subsidised by $7,500 and even more in some states.
But, for all that, we're supposed to be happy with a product that requires hours mapping out a simple trip such that you can hit charging stations along the way? We're supposed to take it in stride that electric batteries lose charge when it gets cold?
They're not ready for prime-time even as beautiful as Tesla's coachwork is. They ought to just dump a V8 in one of them and start making some money.