Tesla is being sued by owners who claim that it misrepresented the range of the vehicle, Ars Technica says.
The complaint says Tesla committed “violations of state consumer fraud statutes, fraud, negligent misrepresentation, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty, violation of California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, and unjust enrichment.”
“As a result of Tesla’s tactics and false advertising, Plaintiffs and Class Members suffered an injury in fact, incurred damages, and have been harmed by Tesla’s conduct,” the complaint said. They are seeking financial damages in the lawsuit, which was prepared by class-action law firm Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman.
Teslas are essentially computers on wheels, relying on advanced tech to perform all functions in the vehicle. While warranty support is generally positive, there are reports of low build quality, unreliable electronic dashboards, and random explosions of the batteries.
Electric vehicle range is the biggest hurdle for greater adoption across the country. The number of charging stations is minuscule compared to gas stations, especially in less urbanized parts of the country. Long distance road trips require careful planning for electric vehicles, as they could easily become stranded.
Hybrid vehicles are proving to be more popular than plug-in EVs, as can be seen by Ford’s plans. While still relying on gas, the power of the car itself charges the battery for extra range, fewer emissions, and overall lower cost per-mile.
