Due in large part to #Tesla , whose 2008 release of the Roadster with lithium-ion batteries piqued popular interest, the electric vehicle #EV sector is currently experiencing a boom. This turned out to be a turning point not only for Tesla but also for other #AmericanEnterprises that were generously funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. The money went toward helping Tesla create the hugely successful Model S, which laid the foundation for a rise in the use of #electricCars .