Tesla's first production car was the Tesla Roadster (2008-2012). It was a landmark vehicle not just for Tesla, but for the entire modern electric vehicle (EV) industry, proving that an electric car could be high-performance and desirable, not just an ecological compromise. Based on the Lotus Elise chassis, the original Roadster was a low-volume, high-price sports car that served as a proof-of-concept for the mass-market EVs that would follow.
The Roadster's most significant achievement was its unprecedented driving range for an electric car at the time. While early EVs struggled to reach 100 miles on a charge, the Roadster offered an EPA-estimated range of 244 miles thanks to its innovative lithium-ion battery pack. This directly addressed "range anxiety," a major consumer barrier. Its performance was equally groundbreaking, with a 0-60 mph acceleration time of just 3.9 seconds, rivaling many gasoline-powered supercars.
| Key Specification | Data Point |
|---|
| Model Years | 2008 - 2012 |
| Base Price (2008) | $109,000 |
| EPA Estimated Range | 244 miles |
| 0-60 mph Acceleration | 3.9 seconds |
| Top Speed | 125 mph |
| Battery Capacity | 53 kWh |
| Total Production | Approximately 2,450 units |
| Horsepower | 248 hp |
| Chassis Basis | Lotus Elise |
The Roadster's development was famously difficult. Tesla didn't design a car from scratch initially but modified the Elise platform, which presented immense engineering challenges in packaging the large battery and electric motor. Despite the hurdles, its success provided the capital and credibility for Tesla to develop the Model S, which truly revolutionized the company and the auto industry. The Roadster's legacy is that of a pioneer—the car that made the world take electric vehicles seriously.
