The Truth About Cars is a website that I haven't come across before, but its article on ownership costs of a Tesla EV is well worth a look. It seems that the aluminium bodywork, used to reduce weight, makes it startlingly expensive.
Reported estimates from Tesla’s certified shops include:
- $10,000 to repair a “minor but long” scratch
- $45,000 for “minor front-end damage”
- $7,000 for repair of a small dent and scratch that required no replacement of parts
- $30,000 for “minor fender and door damage”
- $11,000 for a minor scrape on the rear panel, including a $155 charge to “ensure battery remains charged” during the repair
But there are also strong hints that Tesla is ripping customers off. There's no sucker like a green sucker I suppose.