Model T to Model 3: Electric Cars for Everyone

Henry Ford wanted to make the automobile so inexpensive they would be ubiquitous on American roads and in the average American driveway. He introduced the Model T in 1908 with a purchase price of $850 (what equates to about $23k in 2015 dollars). Four years later, he dropped the price to $575 per car and sales skyrocketed.

It appears that Elon Musk, the mind behind Paypal, SpaceX, and Tesla Motors, wants to do what Ford did for the electric car. He’s producing what may rightly be considered the modern Model T and he’s revolutionizing the automotive industry at the same time.

“I think we’re going to try to do something more radical,” says Elon Musk, who says the Model 3 will be available in 2017 and cost just $35,000—half of what the Model S costs. The new electric competition to the  BMW 3 Series will be able to travel 200 miles on one charge and Tesla will power your car for free… forever.