Before the Tesla Roadster, electric cars were a fringe curiosity. Most people thought EVs were slow, limited-range toys, capped at 40mph thanks to crash testing regulations and crippled by lead-acid battery technology. Bigger batteries could extend range, but at the expense of practicality.
The real hurdle? Changing public perception – convincing people electric cars could be speedy and travel far on a single charge. Enter Elon Musk's stroke of genius: a $100k, ultra-fast Tesla Roadster boasting incredible range. This wasn't just a car, it was a public demonstration, a "wow, electric cars can actually do that?" moment. Suddenly, the limitations of EVs seemed less fixed. The Roadster's public splash also made it a bit harder for Tesla's factories to mysteriously combust, or for Musk to...well, you get the idea. So, was the Roadster all about the car itself, or a strategic boost to the entire EV market?
The real hurdle? Changing public perception – convincing people electric cars could be speedy and travel far on a single charge. Enter Elon Musk's stroke of genius: a $100k, ultra-fast Tesla Roadster boasting incredible range. This wasn't just a car, it was a public demonstration, a "wow, electric cars can actually do that?" moment. Suddenly, the limitations of EVs seemed less fixed. The Roadster's public splash also made it a bit harder for Tesla's factories to mysteriously combust, or for Musk to...well, you get the idea. So, was the Roadster all about the car itself, or a strategic boost to the entire EV market?