Tesla fan Jay Leno says 'almost no reason' to own a gas car

He says EVs are faster and have no maintenance.

Jay Leno has more than 100 cars in his extensive collection but he seems to be particularly enthusiastic about his three-year-old Tesla at the moment.

The comedian appeared on CNBC to declare that "there's almost no reason to have a gas car" unless you need to drive long-haul trips, as Tesla has demonstrated that EVs are faster than a gas car and have no maintenance.

"For new technology to succeed, it can't be equal," he said. "It's got to be better."

Leno likened the rise of EVs to the transition from steam power, which "ran everything from 1800 to about 1911" until the internal combustion engine took over.

"And I predict that a child born today probably has as much chance of driving in a gas car as people today have been driving a car with a stick shift," he added.

Leno's collection includes a 1909 Baker, one of the first electric vehicles that emerged during a brief period as internal combustion began to take over.