Between 2008 and 2012, Tesla produced 2,450 first-generation Roadster EVs. They were scarce. Due to the multiple delays that have pushed the next-generation Tesla Roadster into the “future,” the first-generation cars have gained in value. Six fighting outside a Tesla store in Owings Mills, Maryland, certainly shocked people. The Roadster was the first lithium-ion battery-powered electric car to drive over 200 miles. Since production stopped, Tesla has said nothing about its first electric car (EV), save when CEO Elon Musk rocketed one into space. The business announced a $29,000 battery replacement program in 2014. “Roadster 3.0” or “R80” trim results. Road Mysteries The Roadster is no longer discussed at Tesla dealerships or online for second hand cars. These six were also unavailable. They were unclean, some were cracked, and none had stickers on the windows. Based on windshield stickers, several had been off the road for two or three years. Roadsters always cost. New ones cost $98,950 and increase annually. Hagerty added the car to its Bull Market List in 2021 as collecting values rose. Tesla leaving them here to get covered in pine needles seems odd now that the cars are worth over $100,000 at the sale. A worker confirmed my suspicions as I walked around the lot: these cars were pieces. The unnamed worker said Owings Mills has become an East Coast Roadster hub. However, no one in the shop would speak publicly. One of their pals, “the Roadster guy,” works on these automobiles. The tech says the problem is that most of the original Tesla techs who could fix them are now millionaires. They quit. When Tesla built its service facilities, it offered large stock incentives to attract service techs from competitor dealerships. In the late 2010s, staff received large bonuses as the stock price rose, prompting many to depart. “It’s great that we have someone who has known about these things for a long time.” He stays because he likes the work and vehicles. Save the Strong, Destroy the Weak. The mechanic claimed Roadster owners from adjacent states drive hundreds of miles to Maryland for repairs. The Roadster, the first “modern” EV, reveals how difficult it is to maintain outdated EVs. Plastic, body panels, and computer components degrade. Battery packs, cells, and the system can fail. The Roadster’s Lotus Elise chassis makes finding parts difficult. The Roadster has global parts. Most Lotus parts don’t work anymore due to Tesla’s changes. Repair shops must kill the weak to save the strong since Tesla no longer makes parts. “We take care of these cars, take them apart piece by piece, test the parts, and then use those parts to fix up the Roadsters that are still on the road,” the worker stated. Gruber Motors, one of Tesla’s largest third-party repairs, says the company secretly started taking back Roadsters in late 2019. Later that year, the firm emailed all customers recommitting to Roadster service. Tesla service centres countrywide began stockpiling Roadster replacement parts. I spotted mostly 2019–2021 state licence stickers on autos. The vehicles’ paperwork proved that the majority were trade-ins, even though I can’t imagine trading in an original Roadster for a Model 3. Unfortunately, none of these six will pass by the route again. The photographs below show neglect’s progression. Roadster modified The unidentified expert advised removing the bottom high-voltage, high-power battery. Tesla’s Fremont offices must repair, reuse, or recycle all those battery packs. As needed, pieces are removed. The engineer explained it takes time but needs to identify high-demand items. It resembled a Costco rotisserie chicken. “You eat what you want on the first day and then put it in the fridge.” You pick it until it’s bones and bits. Owings Mills repair shop recycles aluminum frames after cleaning autos. They work on dozens of Tesla 3, Y, S, and X models daily, so it’s a tiny portion of their business. The mechanic assumed Roadsters needed maintenance every two months. As I gazed over the little EV graveyard, I observed the small differences between Roadster versions: hard and soft tops, levers, push-button shifters, standard and Sports variants. Cars have varied coolers, logos, and wheels. One R80 battery was updated. Kim Reynolds’s first Tesla Roadster ride in MotorTrend’s March 2008 edition was thrilling. Unbelievable, these autos are over 16 years old. They should not be buried behind a structure, covered in dirt and leaves, and slowly worn up. It’s comforting to know that these Roadsters will be disassembled and disposed of properly in a world of throwaway cars and insurance companies that dump EVs instead of fixing them. Reusing EVs will become essential when more are sold. The Tesla Roadster may do something new again.
