Connecticut car sale policies in dark ages

Everyone knows by now that President Trump wants to boost U.S. manufacturing. What better company to support than Tesla, whose U.S. content is the highest? Tesla is facing mounting competition from the Chinese, who are racing to produce all types of EV’s and will soon be banging down the doors with their subsidized vehicles. Yet, our legislators are siding with 100-year-old car dealer owner franchise model laws that ban direct sales, “Auto dealers clash with Tesla as state pushes for more electric cars,” (Feb. 24).

This legislation drives prospective customers out of state to test drive, purchase and take delivery of vehicles. Yet, somehow, Tesla can sell in most other states. Connecticut people who purchase Teslas currently go to Massachusetts and New York and put dinner on their plates. Rep. Holly Cheeseman, R-East Lyme, was quoted supporting the legislation suggesting that Tesla needed to supply “large quantities of vehicles” and that “battery technology is not viable on a large scale.”

Has anyone driven a newer EV with a battery that lasts as long as a full tank of gas and gets four times better mileage than petro cars; very practical/ cheaper to run! No more stopping for gas. Just plug in at night! Connecticut representatives need to see the light not by oil lamp but by electricity! Gregory Allard East Lyme

Editor’s note: With the legislative session over, further action on this issue