Is Tesla's Airbnb Partnership 'Very Positive' Or A 'Waste Of Time'?

Tesla Motors Inc TSLA has partnered with Airbnb to bring charging stations to "select homes" all over the world. The deal is designed to encourage consumers to use Airbnb instead of hotels and other, more traditional lodging options, but will it pay off for either company?

"I say that is very positive," Global Equities Research analyst Trip Chowdhry told Benzinga. "There are many segments of people who don't like to stay in a hotel. They would rather stay with friends and family or something like Airbnb."

Chowdhry thinks that Airbnb could develop an app for the large console (which looks like a giant tablet) found inside every Tesla. The app could add Airbnb charging locations as points of interest on the map.

"If somebody [needs a charge], instead of looking for a supercharger, this could be a point of interest," said Chowdhry.

Related Link: How Tesla Will Surpass Apple And Become The 'Most Valuable Company Ever Created'

'Waste Of Time'

Tigress Financial Partners analyst Ivan Feinseth disagrees with the notion that this partnership could help Tesla.

"[It's a] waste of time," Feinseth told Benzinga. "I think it's a way to grab headlines. If you can afford $100,000 for a car, are you really going to use Airbnb, or are you going to deluxe hotels? I think it's a disconnect for the customer."

Feinseth also pointed out that most Airbnb homeowners are concentrated in cities where people don't use cars.

"It's condos and apartments where you can't place a charger," he said. And if a consumer stays at an Airbnb and charges a vehicle, Feinseth wonders if the guest will be charged extra.

"It's a cost," he added. "[The guest is] using kilowatts."

Hotels Vs. Airbnb

Instead of Airbnb, Feinseth said there should be "chargers at every hotel that you're driving to."

"Anywhere people stop to do something -- restaurants, hotels malls," he concluded. "There's no shortage of [places]. They don't need to figure out where to put 'em, they just need to put 'em. They could just follow Tesla drivers, [who would] say, 'Oh, I would like one here because I'm stopping for lunch.'"

Feinseth also suggested that Tesla add chargers to various Starbucks Corporation SBUX locations for a quick 20-minute charge. The charge would not completely charge the battery, but it would provide enough time to "relax at Starbucks and have a frappuccino, mochaccino or cappuccino with Al Pacino."

Disclosure: At the time of this writing, Louis Bedigian had no position in the equities mentioned in this report.