The story
The founders wanted to prove electric cars could be fast, using thousands of laptop cells in the Roadster. In December 2008 a funding round closed just before the money ran out. The Model S then changed what people expected from an EV.
No. 020 · 2003 · San Carlos
Tesla
Laptop batteries in a sports car. Christmas Eve survival.
Made EVs desirable
Make my startup a legend- 1 2003. What if a car ran on laptop cells?
- 2 Thousands of them. In a sports car.
- 3 It beats Ferraris. Very quietly.
- 4 An early investor keeps funding it.
- 5 2008. Crisis. Almost out of money.
- 6 Round closes on Christmas Eve. Hours to spare.
- 7 Then a sedan people actually want.
- 8 Every automaker follows.
- Founders
- Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, with Elon Musk leading early funding
- Founded
- 2003, San Carlos
- What they do
- Electric cars, batteries and solar.