Today, there are over two million electric cars on U.S. roads. Automakers have committed to all-electric lineups, and some countries have banned of the sale of internal combustion engines in the near future. Yet, just 15 years ago there wasn’t a single EV on sale in the U.S. market. Well, we are now witnessing the industry shift towards a sustainable future like never before, almost entirely thanks to the efforts of one company: Tesla.
‘Inside Tesla: Supercharging the Electric Revolution' is the latest exhibit at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles, which opens this Sunday, November 20th. Located in the first-floor space that previously held the Bond in Motion exhibit, this gallery celebrates the strides made by the company that disrupted an industry and became the leader of the EV revolution. It showcases the history of EVs in America, the origins of Tesla, and has the most extensive collection of Tesla models ever shown to the public.
The Largest Collection Of Teslas Ever Shown To The Public
The exhibit has a remarkable array of production and pre-production vehicles on display. Including design study models, prototypes, historically important EVs, and even future models like the highly anticipated Cybertruck and 2023 Roadster.
The Exhibit Showcases Electric Cars Of Historical Importance
Most people view EVs as a new innovation, but in the early days of the automotive industry, nearly half of all cars sold century were fully electric. Eventually, they fell out of favor because electricity wasn’t accessible nationwide yet. One of these early EVs is on display, the 1908 Columbia Victoria, which had a range of 40 miles on a single charge.
The Car That Inspired Tesla
The 1996 AC Propulsion Tzero was an early attempt at building a feasible electric car in the modern era. It never made it to production, but the car proved that electrification could provide impressive performance. Despite its failure, the car inspired the founders of Tesla to make an attempt at their own electric sports car. One of the two surviving prototypes is positioned proudly in the center of this exhibit.
Never-Before-Seen Vehicles On Display
There are over a dozen rare and never-before-seen prototype models showcased at this exhibit, including seminal development cars along with a pre-production Cybertruck–The closest the public can get to one for at least another year. One prototype on display is the Mule 1, the first functional prototype created by the brand. Influenced by the AC Tzero’s lightweight construction, Tesla converted a Lotus Elise to an electric drivetrain for testing purposes. This prototype was used by engineers to study layouts for future models and showcased the capabilities of electric cars to potential investors.
Proving the Haters Wrong
It wasn’t too long ago that the idea of an electric car was laughable, especially from an unknown company in California. Automotive startups have a long history of failure, just look at Tucker and Delorean. In the early days, Tesla was against the world, with very few people believing in their mission to disrupt an entrenched industry. This is acknowledged in a tongue-in-cheek way, by projecting EV-doubting headlines from the early days of the company all around the exhibit. Including one ironically titled “Electric Cars are an Extraordinarily Bad Idea”, positioned in front of a Tesla Roadster.
The original Tesla Roadster was the most important model in the company’s history because it was the first. The success of the company rested on the shoulders of the Roadster. At its launch in 2008, it proved that not only was electrification feasible, but it could provide impressive performance and range.
Take A look inside The Mind Of Elon Musk
A central portion of the showcase is devoted to Elon Musk’s formative years. There are photos of his childhood and novels that influenced him. One such book is Isaac Asimov’s ‘Foundation’, a 1950s science-fiction novel about the collapse of an intergalactic empire. This influenced him at a young age to take actions that “are likely to prolong civilization.” One of the factors that led him to create SpaceX.
The strides made by Tesla have seen EV technology improve greatly in a short period of time. For the first time in generations, an American auto manufacturer has managed to break into the industry and turn the tide toward sustainable energy. If you are in the Los Angeles area, we highly recommend you check out the ‘Inside Tesla’ exhibit at the Petersen Museum.