Remember Whendnesday: Tesla launched its Roadster

The next decade is set to see a surge in electric cars. 

Nearly every major auto maker has set the date for the birth of the electric age to begin somewhere between 2020 and 2022. 

And while several car makers already have electric cars in market, like the Nissan Leaf and BMW i3, they aren't, however, the most inspiring of vehicles. 

But the question needs to be asked, would the likes of Porsche, Audi and Mercedes-Benz have pursued development of electric cars so fervently the last few years if it wasn't for Tesla?

The American car maker charged on to the scene 11 years ago with the launch of the Tesla Roadster in 2008. 

Tesla's first electric car sent a shock through the combustion-engine dependent car makers that at first seemed small, but the traditionalists' DNA-sequence had changed. 

The Roadster was only produced in small numbers, roughly 2500 in total, and wasn't really a full-on Tesla but rather was a Tesla electric powertrain in a Lotus Elise.

However, the relatively lightweight Tesla Roadster was unlike any other electric car; it wasn't seen as a lifeless greenie mobile but was fun to drive, fast and looked like it belonged in reasonable society. 

Compared to the original electric car from the 1990s, the GM EV1 and more modern hybrids like the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight, the Tesla offered character where none had previously existed. 

An electric motor capable of outputs of 185kW and 370Nm with a 0-100km/h time of 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 200km/h were not what people expected of a car that ran on batteries. In comparison a 997 Porsche 911 Carrera of the same time produced 239kW and 370Nm but was far slower to 100km/h (4.8secs), but it did have a much higher top speed (290km/h). 

Coupled with a theoretical range of 393km - this often depended on how the car was driven - the Tesla Roadster made the electric car cool. Its usual charge time was eight hours but this could be reduced to about three and a half with an upgraded charger.

However, the Roadster was exceedingly expensive, with a list price of $110,000 in the US. Though this in itself may have contributed to its success, giving it an exclusivity and desirability of a Porsche or Ferrari. 

The Roadster also laid the foundation for the Tesla Model S, which is currently the benchmark for sporty, desirable electric cars. Soon to arrive electric models from renowned sports car makers like Porsche are often compared to Teslas. 

Tesla is in no way assured of success. Its 'mainstream' Model 3 variant is currently an anchor pulling the car maker deeper and deeper in to the red as it struggles to come to grips with mass production. 

Regardless of whether Tesla is making cars in 20, 10 or even five years, it started the chain reaction that sparked the big players in to action. The fruits of this labour are only just now starting to appear. 

Tesla's Roadster is also the first production car to be launched in to space, when it took part in a test launch for owner Elon Musk's other company SpaceX, which is slightly nerdy and self-indulgent but still a rather cool accomplishment.

2008 Time Capsule 

Average price of unleaded petrol – 135.02 cents 

Highest grossing movie – The Dark Knight 

Top of the charts - 'Low', Flo Rida featuring T-Pain 

NRL premiers – Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 

AFL premiers – Hawthorn Hawks 

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