Tesla Motors, today known as Tesla, Inc., presented the Tesla Roadster, a high-performance electric car, to the public in 2008. Roadster, launched in an era when gas-guzzling car ruled the road, represented a paradigm change in the auto industry. Take a look back to the Roadster’s origins, evolution, and impact in the automotive world.
Birth of Legend -- Timeline for the Roadster
Tesla Motors is a company founded in 2004 by engineers Martin Eberhard (CEO) and Marc Tarpenning (CFO). Their goal was to revolutionize the automotive industry. Elon Musk became the company's Chairman and Lead Investor and is considered one the founding members. The Tesla Roadster prototype was first revealed in 2006. It was the company's initial project to develop a sports electric car. Production began in 2008 with the delivery of the first Roadster to Musk at the beginning of February that year.
The Roadster, which was Tesla's first vehicle of production, was a milestone. Tesla had previously only created a prototype, which was designed to garner interest and help secure funding.
Musk's Vision in Quotes
Musk, the Time Person of the Decade for 2021 had high hopes about the Roadster. Elon Musk declared in a release to the press from 2008. "The production of the Tesla Roadster is a historic milestone that will help Tesla become one of the most important car companies in the 21st century. The Roadster is the first model in a line of Tesla models, and will soon be joined by our 4 door sport sedan. Tesla Motors, eventually, will have an entire line of electric automobiles, and be the leader in the shift from gasoline vehicles to electric cars.
Elon explains in an interview he gave to The Telegraph back in 2012. "With Roadster, our goal was to create something that would be a game changer and show people how an electric vehicle could be cool and sexy while also being fast.
Musk stated, in an 2008 interview with the New York Times: "The goal for Tesla is to accelerate sustainable transport." We would have achieved this with the Roadster in its first version. But we can't. The New York Times Nov. 2, 2008.
Elon said during his presentation at the Cleantech Conference in San Francisco 2008 that the Roadster "has had a significant impact on industry." With the Roadster the goal was to change how people perceive electric vehicles.
Musk said in a 2011 Autocar article that the Roadster had been a success. "The Roadster proved we could build an electric car which has the range and performance as a petrol sportscar. But we knew it was only a step to produce more affordable, mainstream vehicles."
Musk also saw Tesla’s Roadster vehicle as a way of paving the way for its future vehicles. "The Roadster, however, is not the final goal; it is just the beginning," he stated. The technology we have developed for the Roadster will be used to create affordable electric vehicles available to all.
The Lotus Connection: The Roadster's Foundation
The Tesla Roadster was built on the Lotus Elise. It is a lightweight two-seater sports car produced by British automaker Lotus. Tesla Motors developed the Roadster in collaboration with Lotus, taking advantage of their expertise. The Roadster used the Elise's body, but its drivetrain and battery system were exclusive to the electric car. The end result was a combination of cutting edge electric vehicle technologies and timeless appeal of sports cars.
Tesla Roadster has left its mark in popular culture by appearing in films and television programs. Robert Downey Jr., who played Tony Stark and drove the Roadster in "Iron Man 2," made the car a cameo in the 2010 movie. This appearance helped to further cement the car's position as a symbol combining cutting-edge technologies and sustainable luxury. Musk also made a short appearance in the Marvel movie.
Unmatched Performance -- Top Speed, Range and 0 to 60 mph.
In 2008, the Tesla Roadster featured impressive specs for an electrical vehicle. The Roadster, equipped with a lithium-ion 53 kWh battery, could achieve 125mph with a 245 mile range on a full charge.
Electric motors produce 248 horsepower, and 200 lb.-ft. of torque. This allows the car to accelerate from 0-60 in only 3.7 or 3.9% seconds, depending on its model. These performance numbers were a testimony to the abilities of electric powertrains. They showed that electric vehicles can be both efficient, and exciting.
Original Roadster Price
Tesla Roadster had a starting price of $98.950 at the time it was released. This placed the vehicle firmly in the luxury sports cars market. Later versions of the Tesla Roadster sold for around $120,000. Roadsters were embraced by enthusiasts, who understood its importance in ushering the electric car era.
Roadster in Space: The Roadster in Space
Elon Musk's SpaceX successfully launched the Falcon Heavy rocket, its maiden flight in February 2018, with Musk's Tesla Roadster aboard. The Tesla was sent into orbit as a symbol for human innovation and to acknowledge the powerful synergy of Tesla and SpaceX.
The Roadster was placed in a solar heliocentric orbit with the stereo playing David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” on repeat. The vehicle has become a symbol that represents the endless potential of human creativity and the boundless desire to explore space and electric cars.
The Roadster's Impact
Roadster did not come without challenges. Tesla made some updates and adjustments to the first models, due to problems with overheating. Tesla's car transmission was also a problem, resulting in multiple recalls and updates.
Tesla announced its battery upgrade program in 2010. This allowed Roadster owners to upgrade the battery packs of their Roadsters to a modern, efficient design.
Tesla Roadster remains a popular car among Tesla fans despite the difficulties. Consequently, between 2008-2012, Tesla produced 2,450 Roadsters, of which the majority were sold in America.
The 2008 Tesla Roadster launched a brand new era of the automobile industry. It broke the stereotype that electric cars are slow and uninteresting. They proved they can compete in terms performance and driving pleasure with their gasoline-powered competitors. The Roadster paved the way for Tesla to create its subsequent models, which continue to push the boundaries in electric vehicle technology.
New Generation of the Roadster
Tesla announced a brand new Roadster model in 2017. This version promises to have a faster top speed and 620 mile range than the previous one. The Roadster, with a top rate of 250 mph and range of 620 mile, is Tesla's latest electric vehicle.
The success of the Roadster led other automakers to invest in research and developement for electric vehicles. Nearly all automakers offer an electric model today and the market continues its rapid growth. In addition to this, governments are setting aggressive targets for the adoption of electric vehicles. And charging infrastructure has been expanded rapidly in order to meet the growing demand.
Tesla Roadster was a demonstration of the ability of electric motors to provide impressive performance, energy efficiency, and environmental advantages. The Roadster legacy is inspiring new generations electric vehicles and pushing the industry in a more sustainable direction. Tesla continues to push the limits of electric car technology, even though the Roadster has been discontinued.
