Tesla Motors is a startup company that was established in 2003 by engineers who formerly worked for PayPal. The birth of Tesla leads to the revival of many technologies. It includes AC induction motor systems, bringing us magnificent electrified vehicles like Mercedes Benz B-Class and BMW i3.
Despite the fact that Tesla Motors is still not capable of ensuring its own production lines, or marketing all its models worldwide. Cars produced under this brand are already known as the best electric automobiles in the market. They combine simple design with high technology and innovative solutions created by Elon Musk’s team.
THE MAN BEHIND TESLA MOTORS
Tesla Motors was co-founded by a famous entrepreneur Elon Musk, and two other experienced engineers.
Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning worked together to create a company that would design and produce fully electric vehicles.
In 2004 they teamed up with JB Straubel, who had just finished his work on an energy storage system for a hybrid car called AC Propulsion eBox.
In addition, Elon Musk joined Tesla’s founder thanks to an investment in the amount of $7.5 million. He became the company’s Chairman of the Board and main shareholder from October 2008 until July 2017 when he retired from this position after selling out most of his shares in December 2012. Since then 49% of Tesla stocks have been bought by Chinese technology company Tencent.
NET WORTH OF TESLA MOTORS IN 2021
In the early days of Tesla’s existence, Elon Musk invested a total of $70 million in the company. After that, in 2010–2011 after selling his shares worth about $20 million, Musk became one of the 100 richest people in California according to Forbes. In addition, he is also a co-founder and CEO of SpaceX. Taking into account this information, we can conclude that Tesla could bring him a lot of money in the next couple of years.
THE STORIES OF TESLA’S INVENTOR
Elon Musk was born in South Africa and raised in Canada. He is known as a serial entrepreneur who has made millions thanks to his high-tech companies: Zip2 (sold for $307 million), PayPal ($1.5 billion), and SpaceX ($4 billion).
Among other sources of income, he earned $180 million from SolarCity shares and, another $100 million from Tesla Motors stocks sold back in 2012. His company SpaceX is among the most promising enterprises working on space exploration projects such as landing astronauts on Mars
TESLA CARS THAT MADE LEGACY IN THE BEGINNING
The Tesla Roadster
Tesla Roadster was the first production of Elon Musk’s team. It used an AC induction motor system, battery pack with 288 cells, and a 3-phase high voltage system. The total peak power was 263 kW, peak torque – 480 Nm. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h took 4 seconds, top speed – 201 km/h. The range on “city” mode was 320 kilometers, on “highway” one – 244 kilometers. Also, Tesla Roadster had a really large trunk for this class of vehicles. An electric supercar could be charged on standard electric sockets using an onboard charger of 3 kW. The base price in 2008, when it was officially presented at the end of March of that year started from $92,500.
Tesla Roadster Convertible
Tesla Roadster Convertible was 45 kg heavier than the coupe version. Due to its additional equipment that included a windshield, convertible top, and folding soft top. Later on, Tesla Motors announced a special option for this model called Topless which involved the removal of all the soft parts. The base price in 2008 started from $98,000 for both models sold together as a set.
Interesting facts:
Elon Musk named his electric supercar after Nikola Tesla who is considered one of the greatest scientists of our time. Even though many people have never heard about him. Because he wasn’t lucky enough to live in the era of TV, and the Internet.
Tesla Roadster Sport
Tesla Motors upgraded their supercar in 2012 by increasing its power to 222 kW, and torque to 480 Nm with help of a reworked motor control system.
It allowed engineers to use additional energy for acceleration to reach higher peak values.
As a result total range increased up to almost 500 kilometers on one charge with the top speed maintained at 201 km/h. The base price in 2012 started from $109,000 excluding options.
Interesting facts:
Elon Musk announced an option called the “Summer Lightning” pack which could be ordered for this model year, 2013.
It included a “Ludicrous” mode that increased top speed to almost 250 km/h and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h. It took only 3.2 seconds providing the driver with unprecedented driving experience for this class of vehicles.
The price was $17,000 excluding taxes which made Roadster Sport even more expensive than Tesla Model S P85+, so Musk decided not to produce this option after all due to lack of demand.
Tesla Roadster Sport 2012
Pen-top modification of the previous production year model powered by electric supercar’s motor with 222 kW (300 hp) and 480 Nm total torque without any additional options installed.
The base price in 2012 started from $140,000 excluding taxes. This luxury vehicle had the most powerful battery pack available for this model year.
Tesla Model S
Large family sedan produced since 2012 on the same platform as Tesla Roadster manufactured 5 years before that.
It has great attention to detail, and 18-inch touchscreen management interface with no visible buttons located anywhere in the cabin.
Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning developed a new battery technology called “Li-Tec” which allowed them to offer a lot of space inside. Together with increased range because of smaller battery cells made from lithium polymer.
It has active air suspension, an all-wheel-drive system through two electric motors. Powering rear wheels only or all four wheels at once depending on selected option, automatic parking assistant, blind spot detection system, navigation, etc.
Interesting facts:
Model S is the first sedan that managed to cross 400 miles mark on a single charge without any additional options installed. It was accomplished by the P90D version of Model S.
