Musk is an interesting character. And I actually like the way he talks and bucks the system. But I would never buy a car from him. EV or otherwise.
I'll never own an EV made by any car company.
Agreed on both counts.
IF I were to ever consider an electric car, which at the present time is out of the question due to the cost, the lack of charging infrastructure where I live, and lack of range, it would not be a factory built EV. As mentioned above, repairing these cars is problematical once they are out of warranty. Instead, I would look at what Richard Morgan at Electric Classic Cars is doing. He converts classic cars to electric using industry available components and batteries. If a battery module goes bad, you replace that one module and keep driving.
There are still drawbacks, such as having enough room in some cars for enough battery to get much more than 120 miles, ie; VW Beetle, which otherwise is a very straightforward easy conversion that he has demonstrated can be done in one day. In the case of the Beetle, you wind up with 2 to 3 times the H.P., and about the same range. The downside is the batteries take up very nearly all the luggage space.
A better choice is an early 90's or older VW Golf. Another shop does this conversion. These end up with 290 h.p. and 200 miles of range and you still have the luggage space behind the rear seat.
One of his more in depth videos involves converting a Ferrari Testarosa. The conversion worked out so well, and improves every aspect of the Ferrari driving experience that he now has four more owners lined up to convert theirs. With gas at about $7 gallon in the UK, one can see the logic. And if your pockets are deep enough to own a Ferrari, the cost of the conversion is affordable.
The price of the conversion is still an issue at about $35K for the Beetle and $65K for the Golf. This on top of the cost of the donor vehicle. When you consider that this is one off custom work in most cases, (he actually has kits fabricated for the Beetle for certified EV conversion shops to buy). Everything is designed to be bolt in. So all his conversions are reversible if desired.
Richard's work is impeccable and looks for all the world like a factory installation.
I like to watch his videos and see the cool old cars he converts, but until the battery energy density gets to where 300+ miles of range is not only possible, but easily doable, and the price becomes affordable, I'll just watch from the sidelines.