A hotel owner in the town of Füssen, Germany, has taken an unexpected stand against Elon Musk by dismantling three Tesla Destination Chargers outside his environmentally focused hotel. Andreas Eggensberger, once an ardent supporter of Tesla and its commitment to clean energy, made this decision in response to the CEO’s public support of US President-elect Donald Trump.
Eggensberger’s hotel, BioHotel Eggensberger, has long aligned itself with sustainable practices, showcasing eco-friendly innovations and supporting the shift to electric mobility. The hotel even had a Tesla Model S available for guest use and test drives ten years ago, a rare offering at the time that highlighted the hotel’s dedication to green technology. Eggensberger’s initial admiration for Musk stemmed from his role in making electric vehicles (EVs) accessible.
However, this admiration recently turned to disillusionment. As the US presidential campaign unfolded, Eggensberger found himself unable to reconcile Musk’s support for Trump with his own values. In a LinkedIn post, Eggensberger expressed his frustration, saying, “Elon Musk behaves extremely strangely in the way he supports presidential candidate Donald Trump by pandering to embarrassment.”
News of Musk donating tens of millions of dollars to the America PAC aimed at voter mobilization efforts particularly fueled Eggensberger’s decision to cut ties with Tesla altogether.
As a symbolic gesture of protest, Eggensberger removed three Tesla chargers outside his hotel, which he explained in his LinkedIn post was meant to “set an example,” also sharing a picture of him removing the sign for the chargers. He also pointed out that the hotel had already sold its Tesla Model S in the spring and had shifted to vehicles from other manufacturers, like BMW’s i3 and iX3, alongside seven additional EV chargers from Technagon, a German company.
Eggensberger also installed two DC-Alpitronic Hyperchargers on the property to continue supporting EV drivers, though he emphasized they were aligned with local, Bavarian-made alternatives.
The decision received mixed reactions. Many future guests who shared Eggensberger’s perspective commended the hotel owner, even booking rooms to show solidarity. Others, especially EV drivers accustomed to the convenience of Tesla’s charging infrastructure, voiced concerns on social media, suggesting that the action might alienate Tesla owners who look for charging availability when choosing accommodations.
