If Tesla fails, then EV are essentially dead for another decade. Hybrids will fill the role for ecologically respectful transportation.

This is a ridiculous statement, Tesla accounts for less than 10% of global EV sales.

January-March 2018: 304K EV sales, 25K Tesla sales

https://insideevs.com/monthly-plug-in-sales-scorecard/

Apple accounts for a similar fraction of smartphones, but is far more influential than any other maker. Tesla occupies a similar role in terms of EV mindshare. At least in the US, carmakers are developing EVs out of fear that Tesla will succeed and suck out all the profits.

As others have pointed out, Tesla's failure in the EV market won't do much damage as it really isn't the big player and their poor execution is only handing money to competitors. Worse for Tesla they have already given time for established brands to enter and or announce their own EVs. Many people are waiting for their preferred brand of car to come with an EV option.

What the real threat is the damage to self driving that Tesla gives the public. After a series of very publicized crashes where Tesla handled their response poorly journalist are looking at every Tesla crash for involvement of their Autopilot software. Every crash is under suspicion. That alone is a hole that Tesla is going to have a hard time crawling out of and it combined with other companies missteps it will only keep setting back the field.

Not a chance. Look at what is happening in China.