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Tesla’s vehicle performance downplayed by Porsche Mission E exec
Porsche’s Vice President of Product Line BEV, Stefan Weckbach, recently threw some shade at Tesla, stating that the Mission E, the German automaker’s upcoming rival to the Model S, will not have the limitations present in its iconic American counterpart.
The Porsche executive underplayed the performance of the Tesla’s flagship Model S, stating that the vehicle’s capabilities carry a significant weakness since the car is unable to maintain optimum levels of performance for extended periods of time. According to Weckbach, this particular weakness will not be present in the Mission E.
“(Tesla’s) system is throttled. Porsche drivers won’t need to worry about that because the Mission E’s being developed to deliver reproducible performance and a top speed which can be maintained for long periods,” the Porsche exec said according to Autoblog. Weckback asserted that Tesla’s ubiquitous and world record-setting 0-60 mph prowess will fail after a couple of runs. “But only twice — the third attempt will fail.” said the Mission E lead.
While Weckbach’s comments might have been somewhat accurate back when Tesla was limiting the use of its Ludicrous Mode to prevent the expedited wear and tear on its vehicles’ drivetrain and motor, the Porsche exec’s statements are not very accurate in the present context of Tesla’s vehicles. Both the Model S and the Model X, after all, are now capable of launching with Ludicrous Mode consistently, though the electric cars are still yet to dominate in an area where Porsche has expertise — extended performance driving on a track.
Weckbach further asserted that the Mission E would be absent of any gimmicks, dismissing the idea of simulating internal combustion engine sounds on the electric car to give it more character, even stating that the legacy automaker would not “lower” itself with such features. Weckbach asserted, however, that the Mission E will still provide its drivers with an ‘emotional’ experience that is comparable to those provided by the company’s iconic vehicles such as the Porsche 911 and the 918 Spyder.
ALSO SEE: Ludicrous Tesla Model S teaches showboating Porsche why electric drivetrains win [Video]
“Porsche is unlikely to lower itself to gimmicks of this kind or use sound effects. Any sound the Mission E makes will work to enhance the emotional factor of the car, and incorporate a clear reference to the technology,” Weckbach said.
Apart from his comments about Tesla and the lack of gimmicks on the Mission E, the Porsche exec also provided some tidbits of information about the upcoming electric car’s gear and luggage space.
“The front of the Mission E will contain lots of high-tech gear — the electric motor, the power electronics, the cooling system and other high-voltage components. Even with that, there are still 100 liters of space for luggage,” the exec said.
As we noted in a previous report, Porsche is doubling down on its efforts to meet Tesla head-on, investing $7.4 billion on its green car initiatives. Apart from the development of its electric and hybrid cars, Porsche is also investing $868 million in the construction of an ultra-fast charging network for its vehicles. Dubbed the Ionity network, Porsche response to Tesla’s Superchargers is reportedly designed to provide a standard output of 350 kW, which would enable owners of the Mission E to get 248 miles of charge in just 15 minutes. In comparison, Tesla’s Superchargers have a standard output of about 120 kW.
Tesla has once again demonstrated strong customer focus by swiftly addressing and fully refunding a bizarre Supercharger pricing glitch that affected drivers in Atlantic Canada.
The issue surfaced earlier this month when the Tesla app began displaying dramatically inflated per-minute charging rates at stations in Prince Edward Island and parts of New Brunswick.
One widely shared screenshot from a Charlottetown, PEI Supercharger showed rates reaching ridiculous levels: $6.00 per minute for the 180-250 kW tier, along with $3.57/min for 100-180 kW and $2.29/min for 60-100 kW.
Correct pricing will be going live at midnight tonight. All fees since July 2nd 2026 will be waived.
— Tesla Charging (@TeslaCharging) July 13, 2026
These figures were several times higher than normal Supercharger pricing in the region.
To put the error in perspective, charging at the highest incorrect rate would have been shockingly expensive.
At 250 kW, a common charging speed at Superchargers, a vehicle pulls roughly 4.17 kWh per minute. Under the glitch, a driver spending just 10 minutes at peak power would face a $60 bill. A typical 20- to 30-minute session to add meaningful range could have cost $120 to $180 or more, before any congestion fees.
Tesla gets another layer of gamification with Free Supercharging on the line
By comparison, standard Canadian Supercharger rates usually fall between $0.25 and $0.60 per kWh, making a similar session cost roughly $15–$40. The erroneous per-minute structure, combined with the inflated numbers, turned what should be a convenient stop into a potential financial shock.
The glitch appears to have started sometime around early July, and quickly drew attention on social media as owners questioned whether Tesla had implemented steep hidden increases. Some drivers even reported seeing $0 charges in their history, indicating broader billing confusion.
Tesla’s official Charging account on X stated that correct pricing would roll out at midnight on July 13, so the fix is already in effect. More importantly, the company announced it would waive all fees for every Supercharger session since July 2. This blanket waiver covers the entire affected period without requiring users to file individual claims, with automated refunds expected soon. The decision affects stations in PEI and nearby areas in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
It’s a classy move, and rather than issuing partial credits or forcing owners to submit support tickets, Tesla simply absorbed the cost of the system error and made drivers whole. In an industry where hidden fees and bill disputes are common, Tesla’s proactive, no-questions-asked approach reinforces owner trust and highlights the company’s commitment to service excellence.
The incident, while disruptive for a short time, ultimately showcases Tesla’s ability to own mistakes and prioritize customer satisfaction. Atlantic Canada Tesla owners can now charge with confidence again, knowing the company has their back when technology glitches occur.
In an era of complex EV billing, such transparency and generosity are refreshing and set a positive example for the industry.
SpaceX’s Starlink has launched its latest residential hardware kit: the V5. Designed for reliable high-speed internet, the new terminal represents a significant leap forward in user equipment.
The next generation Starlink Kit is designed to deliver reliable, high-speed home internet. Starlink V5 has a smaller form factor and lightweight design with greater power efficiency than the Starlink V4.
With speeds up to 375+ Mbps, Starlink V5 delivers seamless connectivity… pic.twitter.com/0dorU6n0oD
— Starlink (@Starlink) July 14, 2026
The new V5 Starlink kit features a dramatically smaller and lighter form factor, measuring approximately 384 mm x 306 mm x 34 mm and weighing just 1.1 kg, which is less than half the weight of the previous V4 model, which was 2.9 kg.
This compact design makes installation easier and more versatile, whether mounted on a roof, pole, or even integrated with a pipe adapter. An integrated LED light aids setup in low-light conditions.
Power efficiency sees major gains too. The V5 draws only 35-50W, reducing energy consumption and making it ideal for off-grid or solar-powered setups. Despite its smaller size, performance remains robust. Starlink claims peak speeds of 375+ Mbps, supported by a new Wi-Fi 6 Router Mini that covers up to 2,200 square feet and connects up to 235 devices simultaneously.
The kit maintains strong signal reliability in diverse environments, from urban rooftops to remote rural areas, as demonstrated in the promo footage released by SpaceX, showing seamless operation under cloudy skies.
These improvements expand suitable applications considerably. Households can enjoy lag-free 4K streaming, smooth video conferencing, online gaming, and smart home device management without interruption. The V5’s efficiency and portability also benefit RVs, small businesses, and temporary installations in disaster-recovery zones where quick deployment is critical. Its lightweight build lowers shipping costs and simplifies user handling compared to bulkier predecessors.
Starlink’s Broader Impact on Global Internet Connectivity
Since SpaceX began launching Starlink satellites in 2019, the constellation has grown rapidly. By mid-2026, over 10,400 satellites orbit Earth, with thousands more deployed annually. This massive low-Earth-orbit network delivers broadband to approximately 160 countries and territories, reaching millions of users who previously lacked reliable internet access.
Starlink plays a vital role in bridging the digital divide. It provides essential connectivity to remote communities, maritime vessels, airlines, and regions affected by natural disasters or infrastructure gaps. By combining advanced satellite technology with iterative hardware upgrades like the V5 kit, SpaceX continues to push the boundaries of global internet access, fostering education, economic opportunity, and emergency response capabilities worldwide.
As production ramps up, the V5 promises to make high-performance internet even more accessible to users everywhere.
Electric vehicle maker Lucid Group has denied rumors of an imminent bankruptcy after a report from this morning sent the stock on a dramatic drop on Wall Street, seeing losses of more than 40 percent during trading hours.
Lucid’s Director of Communications, Nick Twork, responded to the report from Eletric-Vehicles.com, which stated the company’s restructuring advisor, AlixPartners, was asked to review two decisions: taking Lucid shares private or filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
The report also claims AlixPartners told the Lucid board to “concentrate on Gravity production while improving its quality, and to temporarily hold back the Lucid Air, the sedan that has defined the company since its launch.”
Twork said:
$LCID The rumors are completely false. The company has sufficient liquidity to carry its operations well into next year, as recently published in its last quarterly filings, and it has not formed any special Board committee to explore the scenarios reported today. Our focus is…
— Nick Twork (@ntwork) July 14, 2026
Shares rebounded after the response to the report, halving its losses as the trading day neared 3 p.m. Eastern.
Lucid has struggled to get its sales off the ground and into more respectable numbers, but the company is in its early years, when things are hard to begin with. It is also backed by several notable investors, including the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), which has nearly limitless money and likely would not ditch an investment of this size so soon.
Lucid shares were down just 14 percent at the time of publication, a far cry from the 55 percent its losses topped out at during the day.
Tesla responds to strange Supercharging pricing error with classy move
SpaceX unveils Starlink next-gen V5 kit: here’s what’s new
