Why reinvent the electric wheel?

“THINK bigger with Tesla” (News, June 14) refers. Tesla, the poster child for electric cars is a financial disaster. Since its inception it has been bleeding money. In 2017, it had a debt of US$9 billion and has lost US$2 billion. It only sold 30,000 units worldwide in its latest quarter. This should put the commercial viability of an electric car project to rest.

Electric cars have always been a seductive proposition. I can understand that electric cars are a solution for the chronic air pollution in many cities in China. But does this apply to our cities? Probably not.

When an idea cannot be economically justified, a red herring argument of advancing “science and technology” is often mooted. Can we afford to use our precious resources to try and reinvent the “electric” wheel?

And how can an uneconomic venture be seen as a “breakthrough venture to revitalise economic growth”? That logic is hard to follow.

As for another national car? Don’t we already have a very successful one in the best selling Perodua Myvi? It is fuel efficient and suitable for the masses. A comparable electric car would probably sell at least three times that of the Myvi. It would be priced out of the target market for a national car.

When the focus is on reducing national debt, an “electric car” project should be furthest from the government’s priorities.

Cheong Sai Fah Ampang