Guide from the original Roadster to today: Tesla
Surely you know about Tesla as a software, booming stock and Cerberus of energy innovation. But it was not the pure energy juggernaut we know today. Tesla had to overcome several obstacles to get to where they are today. It is the most valuable automaker in market cap today.
Tesla Inc was founded in 2003 by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning as Tesla Motors. If you’ve been in a coma for the past 18 years, you might be surprised to hear that it was named as a tribute to inventor Nikola Tesla.
Later, Ian Wright joined them. After a while, these three original employees started raising the relevant funds.
Then Elon Musk came to this. In 2004, Tesla Motors decided to start a $7.5 million funding series. Musk contributed 1 million dollars of that. As a result, Musk joined the company’s board as chairman. Now of QuantumScape fame, J.B. Straubel joined Tesla in May 2004 as an employee.
As a result of many controversies surrounding the company, in 2009 these five original employees started to be known as co-founders according to the lawsuit settlement.
Elon Musk
After the initial investment and role in the company, Musk began spearheading Tesla’s public statement while helping to fund more facilities.
This included several additional rounds, each garnering tens of millions of dollars. Before expanding production to very practical and affordable EVs with cash flow scale, Musk openly discussed sleek and stylish sports cars to attract early adopters.
In 2007, the board of directors asked cofounder Martin Eberhard to step down as CEO. In early 2008, Eberhard and Tarpenning were no longer at Tesla. That’s why Musk got the position of CEO and holds it until today. Along with ‘Technoking of Tesla’.
The Roadster
The first original electric vehicle introduced to the American automaker is the Tesla Roadster, which was introduced in 2008. It helped show that EVs are carbon conscious and cool, and helped Tesla to build, improve and sell more practical and efficient vehicles.
And it was a niche vehicle at that time. Also, the Roadster is the first highway legal serial production BEV to use lithium-ion batteries. It is also the first fully electric product that can travel more than 200 miles on a single charge.
Tesla has been selling nearly 2500 first generation Roadsters for almost 4 years since it started to be produced. This is very small by today’s Tesla standards, but the Roadster EV remains and put Tesla on the right map and put it at the door of the industry. It remains a collector’s item just like the original Tesla. The Roadster remains a covered EV and is still available in the used car market.
Model S, energy storage, and Model X
In 2010 Tesla started working on two new EVs in their factory. At the end of the same year, Tesla launched an IPO on the NASDAQ, the first American automaker in nearly 50 years.
After discontinuing the Roadster in early 2012, Tesla started producing the Model S sedan the following summer.
2015 was another tremendous year for automakers. With Tesla energy storage solutions to its Powerwall introduction for home and Powerpack battery packs. Also, Tesla introduced their third EV, which is an SUV called the Model X.
Solar and Model 3
In 2016, Tesla entered the solar energy game and acquired SolarCity. Also, at this point, the company dropped the name “Motors”. And added solar and energy solutions to additional electric vehicles.
Profits from previous EV models and new energy ventures allowed Tesla Model 3 sedan to be scaled and produced. It was the most affordable option in the company fleet and also a mass-market EV. Production issues plagued the entire production process of Model 3. But Tesla was able to sell it at a reasonable price and it became one of their best selling EVs.
Model Y and beyond
3 years after Model 3, Tesla delivered a new EV. In March 2020, Model Y. Tesla continued to outsell both of these new EVs compared to the original S and X models. And there was a significant refresh of both of them this year.
Currently, Tesla continues to expand its global production presence with two new Gigafactories and three additional vehicles. This includes the Cybertruck, the Tesla Semi and the 2nd generation Roadster.
Current Tesla EVs Tesla currently has 4 electric vehicles according to its current status as a company. In terms of sedans, Tesla has the veteran Model S and the more consumer-friendly Model 3. Model X is Tesla’s biggest EV currently on the market. Meanwhile, the Model Y is the company’s most recent offering and more of a smaller, crossover SUV. Model S Today, Tesla’s longest running EV is the
Model S sedan
Its official debut came in 2012. Since then, this sporty EV achieved its best selling in 2015 and 2016.
After Tesla started to launch cost friendly automakers like Model 3 and Model Y EV, sales of the veteran slowed down. But still the Model S remains the premier sedan that offers variety of luxury and performance.
With the current Long Range trim, you can travel up to 450 miles on a single charge. And its speed is 155mph. And it tears from 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds. Tesla recently revealed a refresh of their Model S. Now this vehicle comes in varied range with Plaid or Plaid+ trim.
Model S Plaid/Plaid+
Tesla originally claimed that the Plaid+ can travel an EPA estimated 520+ miles compared to the Plaid’s 390 miles on a single charge. The Tri motor option can reach a top speed of 200mph. It can reach 0-60 mph in 2 seconds. This upcoming Tesla eka will be the fastest among any production car.
Tesla’s Model X
This is the largest EV currently available. This holds seniority as the automaker’s second longest running model after Model S. While the Model S was originally unveiled in 2012, the first delivery was not made until 2015 due to a production delay.
Model X can be ranked as the one with the highest selling plug among the EVs sold in the world. Even so, sales decreased a bit after the low-cost Model 3 and Model Y came to the market. The Model X has not seen substantial overhauls since its rollout. Later, Tesla confirmed at the beginning of this year that a refresh will be coming.
With the new refresh, the Model X will be available in dual-motor AWD and tri-motor Plaid options. Dual-motor Model X Long Range can travel 360 miles by charging at once. And its maximum speed is still 155 mph and its 0-60 mph acceleration of 3.8 seconds. It is a big improvement compared to the previous 0.6 second.
Model X Plaid
A favor of Trim Model X tri-motor Plaid option. This version can travel EPA estimated 340 miles, top speed is 163 mph, and 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds.
This rebranded Plaid powertrain offers almost the same specs as the previous performance trim. Plaid loses one mile from their estimated range to save a second from 0-60. The top speed here is also 163 mph.
For those interested in this and waiting for delivery, the delivery time of this refreshed Model X has been pushed through 2021. Also, these models were originally scheduled for April 2021. But both these trims are pushed to be delivered in January or February 2022.
Also, some new versions of the Model X were recently seen and they were supposed to be delivered in May or June 2022.
Model 3
After the first few years, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, talked about the automaker’s goal, which is to provide quality EVs. With the announcement of the 2016 Model 3 sedan, Tesla is one step closer to their $35,000 EV goal.
Model 3 was first released in 2017 after a lot of encouraging numbers that were previously reserved. Since then it has been cruising comfortably in the lane of the sales. This EV is currently the best selling electric vehicle in the world and has accounted for a large portion of Tesla’s revenue in the past few years.
As promised by Elon Musk from the first delivery, Model 3 will be sold by Tesla for $35,000. But with its refresh model in 2021, the price has changed a little. You can get the current model for $41,990 for the standard Range Plus trim with zero added features.
The Tesla Model 3 is currently sold in three divetrains. You can choose one of them and each of them offers various ramges and speeds based on the customer’s preferences. The most affordable trim, the Standard Range Plus, has an EPA estimated range of 263 miles, a top speed of 140 mph, and a 0-60 mph time of 5.3 seconds.
When moving to the Long Range trim, this version can travel 353 miles on a single charge and the top speed is 145 mph. Its 0-60 time is 4.2 seconds. On the other hand, the performance Model 3 sheds 38 miles of range when compared to Long Range. Its top speed is 162 mph and it can dart from 0-60 mph in just 3.1 seconds.
Tesla’s Model Y
Tesla first unveiled their Model Y in 2019 as a smaller and crossover version of their largest and best established Model X mid-size SUV. After deliveries started in March 2020, Model Y became the newest member of the Tesla family and achieved significant sales in the EV market in a short period of time.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk nixed a standard Range Model Y option but also promised a rear-wheel-drive Long Range Model Y to follow. As they have recently shown this option on their website, Tesla had gone back to Standard Range RWD Model Y. But the Standard Range Model Y has suddenly left the Tesla website.
Electrek later reported that the RWD Model Y is an off menu item because Musk is not satisfied with the 244 mile range. Also, it recently got its official EPA rating as one of the most efficient EVs in the world.
Tesla’s latest EV now comes in two different dual-motor AWD trims: Long Range and Performance. The current Long Range trim boasts an EPA estimated range of 326 miles and a top speed of 135 mph. And it can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds. Its performance trim can go 303 miles on a single charge. Its top speed is 155 mph, and it can accelerate from 0-60 in 3.5 seconds. The EV also houses 68 cubic feet of cargo space.
Upcoming Tesla EVs
All the productions below are the productions that will come from Tesla and we can have hope for them.
Cybertruck
The upcoming Cybertruck is Tesla’s newest pickup truck, one of the vehicles that can see a successful electrification. The Cybertruck is also the second major Tesla vehicle outside the mainline S,3,X,Y lineup.
The Cybertruck was unveiled in November 2019 with a glass shattering Tesla reveal, showcasing a unique design and performance. Here, 30x cold-rolled stainless-steel structural skin and glass were put in the windows.
After its unveiling, Cybertruck is slow moving. The solar roof option available here gives an extra 15 miles every day, and a matte black exterior has also been confirmed. Tesla tallied over 250,000 pre orders in their first week. By February 2020, it was half a million.
Powertrain variation The Cybertruck is currently available with three different powertrain options. A single motor RWD version will debut in late 2022 and will offer an EPA estimated range of 250+ miles. 0-60 mph is delivered in less than 6.5 seconds. And the towing capacity is 7,500+ lbs.
The dual motor powertrain comes with AWD and a 300+ mile range and top of 10,000+ lbs. Here you can travel from 0-60 mph in under 4.5 seconds.
The tri motor Cybertruck boasts an EPA range of over 500 miles, a towering capacity of 14,000+ and a 0-60 mph time of under 2.9 seconds.
It was stated on Tesla’s website that the dual and tri motor Cybertruck will be delivered by the end of 2021. But Elon Musk has now said that the Cybertruck will now be delayed until 2022.
Even if it is delayed, Elon Musk exclaims that it will be a glitch in the matrix.
Recently, Tesla Cybertruck specs and pricing were removed from their website.
Tesla Semi
This was first unveiled in November 2017. The features here are unique and the driver’s seat is led by four rear powertrains.
The Tesla website has said that this semi has a range of 300-500 miles. But Musk has said that the truck will travel up to a range of 621 miles. The starting price of these trucks is 150000-180000$. It’s battery size and promises owners gas savings of over $200,000.
After its unveiling, this semi will hit the road in 2019. That is before 2020 low volume production is pushed. During the 2020 Q1 results call, Tesla sent its delivery to 2021. This company has scheduled to give it to PepsiCo by the end of semi 15 of this year.
Semi trucks are currently manufactured at Tesla’s Navada Gigafactory. A new production line was recently added there with a goal of making 5 per week. Next, Tesla will move their semi production to Austin. Currently, the focus is on service technicians and infrastructure between Tesla’s Fremont Factory and Gigafactory Navada.
Tesla semi remains in the prototype stage. And with these in mind, an updated version of the 2017 original prototype is shown. On this point, in 2021, Tesla finally approached the full-fledged production of their semi trucks.
Second-generation Roadster
Pay homage to their original trailblazing EVs with the release of the Tesla second-generation Roadster with groundbreaking specs.
According to Tesla’s CEO, the Roadster redux will reach 620 miles and 0-60 mph in 1.9 seconds. Musk said that these are base specs and the performance can be increased. The Tesla website is now accepting reservations for the Roadster. Also, a variation has been called for the Founders Series Roadster.
It remains extra 50,000 $ Founders Series will get consumers. But Tesla takes reservation only for 1000 total. Founder Series Tesla Roadster is priced at $250,000.
After unveiling this revamped Roadster in 2017, Musk said that it will be delivered in 2020. Later he admitted another Roadster delay in 2022. Tesla has now focused on the Cybertruck.