I think Tesla cars are the big reason for the halo effect that is taking hold of electric cars being luxury item muscle cars rather than the popular perception that cars like the Prius and Leaf are "wimpy" weak cars. Pickup trucks and SUVs are very popular in the US, and people are not going to easily switch to cars like the Leaf. Without Tesla I think the process is going to set back at least several years.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/06/the-steadily-disappearing-am...