http://www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph JULY 2019 41
Musk
EV enthusiast and PayPal co-founder Elon Musk
joined the company in 2004 as an investor and
took on various roles including designing cars
and serving as the chairman. Five years and
several prototypes later, Tesla released its first
electric sports car, the Roadster.
Compared to the EV1 which was powered by
lead-acid batteries, the Roadster ran on lithium-
ion battery cells and could cover a distance of
300 kilometers upwards per charge, making it
more sustainable than the former. The Roadster
could also accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour
in less than 4 seconds and boasted speeds up to
201 kilometers per hour, which were numbers
unmatched for an all-electric vehicle during its
time.
The Roadster, which was based on the Lotus
Elise chassis, not only looked good; it was also
sturdy despite its being lightweight. This can
be attributed to its carbon fiber body. Since it
was powered by lithium-ion, it could also be
conveniently recharged from a standard electric
outlet. Given its advanced features, the Roadster
was a premium with its price tag of $109,000.Musk announced that profits from the sports car
will be used in developing affordable EVs and
other electric power generation options.Model SIn 2009, the brand showed off a prototype of the
Model S’s which would replace the Roadster and
begin production in 2012. The all-electric luxury
sedan was to be offered with three battery
options. The highest configuration of the Model
S could travel at 600 kph and accelerate from 0
to 100 kph in less than 5 seconds. The Model S’
battery was stowed underneath its floor giving
it more storage space and improved handling.
It was acclaimed for its exceptional design and
performance. The 2014 Model S—and other
Tesla vehicles released afterward—also featured
the Tesla Autopilot, advanced hardware that
allows semi-autonomous driving. This provided
a glimpse into future self-driving cars.Having found the rhythm, Tesla would showcase
the crossover Model X prototype just months after
the Model S’s introduction. The prototype stirred
up excitement with its futuristic “Falcon Wing”
doors which open upwards instead of sidewards.
It could seat up to seven passengers and boasted
a maximum battery range of more than 475 km/h.Delivering on its promise of more affordable Tesla
cars, the Model 3 was introduced. The Standard
Range base model, which was offered at $35,000,
could still be categorized as a luxury but is
significantly priced lower than other Tesla models.
The base model could achieve more than 200
km/h speeds and could go from 0 to 96 km/h in a
little over 5 seconds.Beyond EVs and Semi-AutomationAfter securing funding from investors and going
public in 2010, Tesla became more than just an
electric automaker. It changed its name to Tesla Inc.
in 2017, making it known that the company has
evolved into something bigger than it originally
intended.In its Gigafactories, the company developed
solar energy products for homes and businesses
and lithium-ion batteries. The company also
built Superchargers, eventually dubbed Tesla
Stations, across the United States and Europe
for Tesla owners to charge batteries for free and
provide the service of replacing Model S battery
packs. Musk is also vocal about the many modern
technologies they are working on.
Despite changes in leadership, criticisms, and
autopilot troubles, Tesla’s achievements and pro-
Earth influence are unparalleled for a company
that has only a little over a decade under its
belt. At the rate it has been churning out new
innovations, it is only to be expected that greater
things are yet to come from Tesla.
Photos from: Tesla websitePhotos from: Tesla website