Batteries could be big business in future, and Tesla’s innovations also hope to significantly extend battery lifespans while reducing costs. This could impact a lot of other industries, making Telsa much more than just an electric car company. The batteries in question are not too dissimilar to those used to power iPhones and wearable tech like Google Glass. And as gadgets get more overloaded with functionality, cost and performance optimised batteries are the future of electronics.

This all looks very promising for Tesla, and its approach to growing the market certainly exudes confidence. Far from keeping its technology on the quiet, in June 2014 Tesla removed its patents in the spirit of open sourcing and to advance the electric vehicle industry as a whole – ultimately it could be said, for the good of the planet.

Deciding whether or not Tesla is a force to be reckoned with comes down to your interpretation of Musk’s bold approach. Is this a company so far at the front of a transport revolution it has nothing to fear, or is Tesla merely test driving new technology, ready for the major manufactures to pull in and overtake?