King County Metro purchase of 120 Teslas faces scrutiny as anti-Tesla sentiment in WA grows
KING COUNTY, Wash. - King County Metro's recent decision to purchase 120 Tesla Model Ys for their VanPool fleet has raised questions and sparked a heated discussion online.
The announcement, made public in a press release back in December, gained traction on Reddit this week, where it garnered over a hundred comments. While some applaud the move as a cost-effective step toward electrifying the region's transportation options, others are critical of the decision, questioning the use of taxpayer dollars and expressing discomfort over investing in a company associated with Elon Musk.
What they're saying:
The online discussion highlights increasing local frustration toward Tesla and its CEO, with some people putting their anger to action through vandalism at the South Lake Union storefront in Seattle or decorating their Tesla with bumper stickers criticizing Musk.
Robert Lipman from Seattle has ties running deep to the brand. He shared with FOX 13 that he has personally faced this backlash.
"As a former employee and current Tesla owner, I’m starting to feel a little ashamed to still be driving it," said Lipman. "Anti-Tesla sentiment is pretty high."
This frustration seems to have extended to King County Metro, with several Reddit users expressing their disapproval of the purchase. One account, who shared the December press release, wrote, "Any way to cancel this terrible decision?"
The other side:
In response to the criticism, Sean Hawks, a spokesperson for King County Metro, defended the decision. He explained that the choice to purchase the Tesla Model Ys was not driven by luxury or status but by necessity. The county’s vanpool fleet needed a 7-seater electric vehicle to meet climate goals, and Tesla was the only provider to answer the call after a public bid was put out.
"It was an easy decision because there’s only one provider right now," Hawks explained.
Hawks also emphasized the Model Y is an "economy vehicle", pointing out that its cost was comparable to that of a gasoline-powered minivan. According to Hawks, the purchase was a significant step in Metro's broader goal to electrify its Vanpool fleet by 2030.
"This is a fantastic program that 900 groups of people use to get to work and destinations every single day. So we’re really excited to green this fleet," Hawks said. "One of the amazing things about the VanPool program is everything’s paid for. It’s the vehicle, the insurance, the maintenance. All those pieces really add up."
By acquiring these Teslas, VanPool users, will be able to plug in their loaned vehicles at home and avoid the gas pump entirely.
Despite the current pushback, Hawks reassured that Metro would remain open to exploring other electric vehicle options in the future, should more battery-electric alternatives become available.
The debate over Tesla's presence in the region shows no signs of fading. In fact, a bill set for a hearing Tuesday in Olympia, if passed, could ban the sale of Tesla vehicles in Washington state.
The Source: Information in this story is from King County Metro and FOX 13 Seattle reporting.
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