EV Hostility?

[PRSIST]

I popped over to the Model S forum from the Model 3 forum to ask a question to all you Tesla owners. Other than being ICE'd at a charging station, have you experienced any hostility because you are driving an EV?

Thanks for any feedback you can provide.

 

[Doc Savage]

Most folks give me a thumbs up if they recognize the car. However, I have had at least two instances of folks presenting me with another digit over the course of the last year. I don't have any idea why, though I speculate that perhaps, since I am in oil country, that that may have something to do with it. As far as I know, I had not done anything else to irritate them. Two of the three times, it was a large pickup truck, but that may just be co-incidence.

 

[ChadS]

Almost never in real life.

Almost every day online.

 

[AlanSqB]

I haven’t personally been “coal rolled” yet, mainly because the yahoos out here only seem to be able to visually pick out Prius cars for that treatment.

I have been cut off and given the finger once. Another time I was indirectly, verbally abused by an older woman who I can only assume has a husband or son laid off from the oil business around here. She wanted to make sure I knew that I wasn’t “special” and used colorful language to make her point. I assume she meant a special snowflake, which I most certainly am

I’m also in “oil country” and anyone against fracking or the ugly, destructive oil wells that mar our beautiful state is assumed by those who live outside of Denver, Fort Collins or Boulder to be a communist.

I won’t be surprised if we start seeing anti EV stickers on the diesel pickups out here soon, right next to the “Learn English or Go Home” and “Trump is my Homeboy” tags.

Disclosure: I don’t have an S. Just a LEAF.

 

[kirkbauer]

I would say that people are much more tolerant of my aggressive (but safe) driving in my MS than before with other cars.

Some want to "race" once in a while though.

 

[PRSIST]

Before the responses build up, let me add this. If you've had an experience, do you have personalized plates and do you think that prompted negative action?

 

[Xenoilphobe]

Never about the car, but my custom plate means different things to different people.

NOMOGZ = No More Gas to the majority of people with more than 70 IQ.
NOMOGZ to a car load of crew cut girls in a Subaru = No More Gays - I got the bird, and followed them to a Starbucks to ask them why - and had some explaining to do...
NOMOGZ to a African American woman in her Sunday best prompted her to ask me this question - "Son, Do you have a problem with JESUS?"

Moral of the story, make sure you really think about the combinations!

I got a new tag and it's much clearer SOAMPED- my wife now gets the stupid questions with the old tag.. Don't recommend any tag that starts with NO (it creates a negative climate)

 

[boaterva]

I have my personalized plates (see avatar) on my BMW and of course no one has a clue. Have to see if that changes once my car arrives. I doubt anyone except forum members and the odd physicist/engineer to notice!

I would hope negative reactions in general would be limited to oil/coal country?

 

[boaterva]

Never about the car, but my custom plate means different things to different people.

NOMOGZ = No More Gas to the majority of people with more than 70 IQ.
NOMOGZ to a car load of crew cut girls in a Subaru = No More Gays - I got the bird, and followed them to a Starbucks to ask them why - and had some explaining to do...
NOMOGZ to a African American woman in her Sunday best prompted her to ask me this question - "Son, Do you have a problem with JESUS?"

Moral of the story, make sure you really think about the combinations!

I got a new tag and it's much clearer SOAMPED- my wife now gets the stupid questions with the old tag.. Don't recommend any tag that starts with NO (it creates a negative climate)

I see the gays, perhaps, in the arcane world of trying to make something fit a plate. But never seen G-Z for Jesus. That's a new one.

Agree on the 'no' and definitely spell it out if it can be taking wrongly!

 

[AlanSqB]

No. I have plain CO “Adopt a Shelter Pet” tags. Hmm, maybe they were anti-pet-adoption people.

 

[Cosmacelf]

Been driving a Tesla for 4 years in San Diego, CA never a negative reaction. Of course, you can't throw a stone around where I live without hitting one .

 

[AlanSqB]

Also planning to get “Shelter Pet” tags on my Tesla and have to admit it is an intentional thing hoping people won’t think “just another self absorbed, rich...”.

 

[Xenoilphobe]

Isn't 10,000 Gaus = 1 Telsa?

Teslas to Gauss Conversion Calculator

 

[boaterva]

Isn't 10,000 Gaus = 1 Telsa?

Teslas to Gauss Conversion Calculator

If that was directed my way, yes, exactly.

 

[Scoopa]

Lots of positive reactions in New England to my S 100D. One time a police officer acquaintance gave me a hard time because he thought I was making a political statement (I wasn't) when he found out I got a Tesla. But I just took that as a reflection of him. I certainly can't control what others think, but I can help make the world a better place and have a lot of fun driving a Tesla!

 

[GaryW]

I just got the Tesla, and I have only gotten positive attention.

I got plenty of negative attention in a Prius or on a bicycle.

The bicycle got the funniest responses. One day riding with a group, a guy tried to roll coal on us. He made three passes, and couldn't get the speed and wind right. After his third pass we were laughing so hard I was afraid one of us would fall off our bicycle. I guess limited understanding of physics, and a desire to roll coal, go hand in hand.

 

[dsm363]

Almost never in real life.

Almost every day online.

Same here. Online especially on Facebook or the Chevy Electric page you'll see countless 'coal car' and other typical comments. Trying to have a reasoned and fact based discussion doesn't work.

 

[yeti]

Apparently, these days people assume your political leanings based on many things, including the car you drive. This New York i3 owner (not me!) felt the need to put on a giant bumper sticker so that he/she is not confused for a liberal. It is sad that people feel the need to do this, but good to see all kinds of people driving electric cars...

 

[svp6]

More interest than hostility. The only one time someone was hostile it was because of the perceived "rich person car". Hopefully with the model 3 more mainstream that will dissipate.

 

[Cosmacelf]

Yeah, people really really need to be taught to treat everyone as individuals, and not assume anything. Unfortunately our schools are teaching the opposite most of the times.