Replies

“Musk is the founder of PayPal, and mainly from the sale of that company already has a net worth north of $650 million. “

So then why does he need 465 million of my tax money?
So you’ve just proven me right.
He IS a parasite.
Further, there is absolutely zero proof that any electric car program will be profitable at any point in the future.
Especially if common sense wins out and government teet money dries up.
Right now, the only thing keeping electric car makers going is government teet money.

“So then why does he need 465 million of my tax money?”

Why do any of the big companies need tax money (or tax breaks)? Don’t I recall that GE paid no taxes last year? As I said, they game the system.

It look as though, unlike Solyndra and the other bad loans, Tesla will pay the loan back - and ahead of schedule.

http://www.teslamotors.com/blog/update-elon-musk

“Further, there is absolutely zero proof that any electric car program will be profitable at any point in the future.”

There is never any “proof” that something will happen in the future. Some possibilities are more likely than others, though.

“Especially if common sense wins out and government teet money dries up.
Right now, the only thing keeping electric car makers going is government teet money.”

I expect you mean “teat” money.

I don’t think you’re right about profitability though. Right now 13,000 people have put money down on Tesla vehicles. That works out to a cool $1.3 billion worth of vehicles. Other than charge time, you wouldn’t be giving up much over a regular sports car. The top of the line model does 0-60 MPH in 4.4 seconds, and has a range of around 300 miles. The cost for a charge is about $17 in LA, which has higher than average electricity prices. The cost to go the same distance in a 30 MPG car would be about double that.

Electric cars will make more and more sense as the technology improves. Personally, I could like a nuclear powered car (via nuclear generated electricity).