In a lot of current articles like this one at Futurism, Elon Musk has been described as damaged. Particularly, one creator acquainted with the Twitter buy mentioned, “Elon didn’t simply break Twitter, Twitter broke Elon Musk.”

To justify that assertion, the creator factors to a number of incidents that Twitter staff advised him about. In a single case, Elon Musk is alleged to have retreated into his workplace at Twitter HQ and locked himself in. For causes not totally defined, Twitter staff nearly referred to as the police as a result of they reportedly had causes to consider he’d hurt himself.

The creator claims that as public opinion of Musk fell, Musk’s psychological state fell with it, as a result of he cares deeply about his public status.

To be clear, all of this info comes second and third-hand. Anybody alongside the way in which may have mentioned one thing unfaithful or be exaggerating the reality. However, it does come from a reputable creator who’s well-respected within the discipline for this sort of behind-the-scenes reporting and writing, so it’s not simply an web rumor.

However, whether or not it’s true or not, it’s one thing that ought to give EV advocates pause. Anybody can fall prey to psychological well being issues, so we’ve bought to suppose lengthy and exhausting about having one man have a lot affect and management over the trade.

I Don’t Imply This Disparagingly

Earlier than I delve deeper into this challenge, I wish to make it fairly clear that I’m not scripting this to harm Elon Musk. It’s well-known that I’ve some deep disagreements with the man, particularly over LGBT rights points and a few of his less-informed statements about firearms laws. However, on the identical time, I’ve additionally written articles about how we must always deal with eccentric geniuses like Elon Musk higher if we wish to thrive as a civilization and even invited Elon Musk to have lunch and shoot at Cybertruck steel.

Like most different CleanTechnica writers, I used to admire and look as much as Musk. He had mainly taken a cussed and unchanging trade and drug it into the EV transition kicking and screaming. He additionally has been a serious power for reforming area journey, one other trade/endeavor that had fallen into a foul rut.

So, I’m actually not making an attempt to harm his status. I’m genuinely involved for the man and form of perceive what he’s going by (I personally know precisely what it’s prefer to fall for miserable far proper doomsday propaganda). However, on the identical time, we’re coping with a difficulty that deeply impacts the way forward for our species, so there’s not room for limitless slack right here.

The Downside: Tesla Is Close to-Synonymous With EVs

Anybody who is aware of a lot concerning the EV trade is aware of that Tesla is far-and-away the most important participant. Tesla’s promoting nearly all of EVs. Not less than in america, the corporate has the most important, most dependable charging community. The corporate’s title is so deeply related to EVs that almost all anti-EV rhetoric is focused at Tesla’s shortcomings, even when different EVs don’t share them.

It doesn’t assist that almost all EV followers are additionally Tesla followers and infrequently Stans. When one thing goes improper with one other firm’s EVs (particularly charging), dozens of Stans will present as much as inform everybody, “Ought to have purchased a Tesla.” or, “Don’t purchase any EV that isn’t a Tesla.” I believe an excellent chunk of those accounts are faux, however I do know many are actual individuals.

So, for higher or worse, we’re now able the place if Tesla falls, the EV transition in america and in lots of different locations additionally falls.

Questionable Choices Have Been Made

I do know everybody isn’t going to agree with my opinion right here, however I don’t suppose Elon Musk’s questionable decision-making has been restricted to his bombastic Twitter conduct.

For one, the corporate has invested some huge cash in a state that’s hostile to it. Positive, Texas welcomes the manufacturing unit close to Austin and the entire jobs that go together with it, however on the identical time, they nonetheless don’t enable Tesla to instantly promote its automobiles within the state. There are numerous workarounds, however Cybertrucks being constructed on the Texas manufacturing unit may need to be shipped out of state and introduced again for Texas patrons.

In different phrases, getting conservatives to say good issues about you on Twitter for letting them doesn’t imply they’ll begin supporting EVs.

Talking of the Cybertruck, we have now to think about how lengthy it has been since that announcement. I personally haven’t favored the factor from the start, however it grew on many individuals (like a fungus). However, altering opinions among the many Tesla Standom doesn’t imply the corporate’s incapacity to carry the factor to marketplace for 4 years (probably 5 years earlier than full manufacturing) goes away.

I get that revolutionary and groundbreaking merchandise take time, however we will’t assume that there are not any alternative prices to delays like this. As an alternative of creating the truck Tesla’s first pickup, Musk may have simply accomplished a small pickup like the favored Ford Maverick on the identical platform because the Mannequin 3 and Y. Not less than one such Tesla pickup has been inbuilt a storage, so Tesla may have introduced that to market shortly and made cash whereas taking time getting the Cybertruck proper.

What’s unhappy is that analysts and writers advised Elon Musk that the Cybertruck wasn’t a good suggestion from the start. As an alternative of listening to critics, or higher but having individuals inside the corporate to offer him counterpoints, he appears to have surrounded himself with sure males who inform him what he needs to listen to.

One other questionable choice is the corporate’s method to gigacasting. On the floor, it seems to be an excellent method to decreasing car manufacturing prices, however a broad number of automotive analysts and writers are warning the trade that this might result in unrepairable automobiles after collisions. There are additionally issues with not less than one buyer discovering a cracked body on a brand new automotive constructed this manner!

I do know the Stans are going to mob the feedback telling me that I’m improper about all of this, and I’ll get the same old “Elon Musk has achieved greater than you ever will!” tripe. However, I’m nonetheless of the opinion that avoidable errors had been made by a person who seems to be shedding grip on actuality.

Even when I’m fully improper, it’s by no means clever to place too a lot of your eggs in a single basket. The trade wants to realize a extra various mixture of leaders.

Featured picture by Tesla.