December 28, 2017
In the late 2010s, Elon Musk, the owner of Tesla, made his mark as a cultural figure due to his progressive views on technology. Last month, Musk revealed Tesla’s next generation Roadster, an electric sports car capable of reaching speeds of 0 to 60 miles per hour in under 1.9 seconds, and 0 to 100 miles per hour within 4 seconds. While he has not released details on its top speed, it’s hinted to be above 250 miles per hour.
The Roadster also has a 620-mile range per charge on its 200-kilowatt battery. It is also a lot roomier than the previous models of the vehicle. This Roadster can seat four people and has a lot of room for cargo.
Recently on Twitter, Musk caused quite a stir when he proclaimed that the Roadster will be able to make short hops. Rumors immediately started swirling that the new Roadster will be able to fly. Musk is remaining mum on this tidbit, but we are eager to see if he lives up to his word.
People eager to get their hands on the car can reserve their vehicles now. They will have to make a payment of $50,000 that will go towards the base cost of the car, which is $200,000. But unfortunately, it will not enter production until 2020.
Musk indicated that the Roadster is meant to be a jab at gas-guzzlers and high-end sports cars that still depend on depleting fossil fuels to reach high speeds. Musk also added that the Roadster will be the fastest production car ever made, although this might have been a hyperbolic statement used to sway an already enthusiastic crowd.
Despite the Roadster’s reveal being a success within the company’s own community and fan base, electric cars are still a niche in the public eye. Environmentally inclined cars like the Toyota Prius and Kia Optima are common enough, but fully operational electric vehicles such as the Roadster are usually put off by consumers because of high costs, occasional social stigmas, and a general lack of public accommodations.
Even though hybrid vehicles like the aforementioned Prius have gained popularity in pop culture, hybrids overall have only made up 1.5% of domestic auto sales since 2013. But since the introduction of the Prius, other car brands are coming out with their own versions of the electric car. For example, Chevrolet has the Bolt and BMW has their 330e. With more automakers getting in on the EV trend, the vehicle is starting to become more and more accessible to the general public.
Government action has also helped in making electric vehicles more accessible to the public. Many metropolitan cities, such as New York City, are making efforts to incorporate EV charging stations into their infrastructure. It is estimated that Tesla-owned charging stations could soon outnumber standard gas stations.
Tesla’s Roadster is the vehicle that started the electric car craze. After helping put Tesla on the map, the Roadster was put on the backburner. Attention instead was drawn to the Model X, Model S, and the Model 3. Now Tesla is going back to where they started.
The new Roadster has the potential to be one of the most powerful electric vehicles created to date. Elon Musk has expressed that he doesn’t simply want to make the best electric cars, he wants to make the best cars period. From what we know of the Roadster, it is very possible that he may have achieved his goal.