11 Interesting Things Tesla Makes Other Than Electric Cars

Tesla's Toys

One of the most innovative companies in the world, Tesla is the brainchild of eccentric CEO Elon Musk — whose recent stint as host of "Saturday Night Live" was the subject of growing controversy. But while people have mixed feelings on Musk, the Tesla brand has fared better: It overtook Toyota as the world's most valuable car company in mid-2020.

Tesla's fully electric cars are known for their amazing technology and groundbreaking batteries. The company, however, is not a one-trick pony. Its most current non-automobile aspirations include possible expansion into the restaurant business, as Bloomberg News recently reported. Here's a look at that possibility, as well as some non-car gear and gadgets made by Tesla.

Interior of old diner — halbergman/istockphoto

A (Potential) Restaurant

While no one is yet sure what's going on around this news, multiple media outlets reported in early June that Tesla filed paperwork with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to use three of its logo designs for use in the food industry. Does this mean Musk means to open an eatery? Perhaps — the mogul noted in a 2018 tweet that he was "gonna put an old school drive-in, roller skates & rock restaurant at one of the new Tesla Supercharger locations in LA." Watch your back, Sonic.

Radio Flyer Toy Tesla Model S

If you've got an underaged Tesla fan in the family, you can gift that budding motorist with a miniature Model S made by Radio Flyer. Made for kids ages 3-8 up to 80 pounds, the cars — just like their bigger siblings — are completely battery powered. Also like the real thing, they're packed with high-tech features, including a front trunk, a working horn and headlights, and an MP3 sound system

House-Powering Batteries

Tesla is a battery company as much as it is a car company, and they make power cells that can put out enough juice to run your entire home. Called the Powerwall, Tesla home batteries are 100% self-powered and can store enough juice to provide seven-plus continuous days of energy in case of an outage. Homes up to 4,500 square feet can get by on two Powerwalls, which cost a combined $13,000, but Tesla suggests supporting hardware will be another $1,100 and installation will range between $2,000 and $3,000.

Solar Roofs

Your Powerwall batteries need to get their energy from somewhere, and that somewhere rises in the east every morning. Forget the big, clunky solar panels of old, the Tesla Solar Roof is made from invisible glass tiles that look just like roof shingles — but they're far, far more durable. Tesla has so much faith in its tiles that the so-called "infinite warranty" extends for "the lifetime of your house, or infinity, whichever comes first."

Surfboards

In 2018, Tesla quickly sold out of the 200 limited-edition, red and black surfboards the company created. Produced by Lost Surfboards and a man named Matt "Mayhem" Biolos, the boards have the same finish as Tesla cars and were reinforced with carbon fiber. In 2019, experts from SurferToday cracked one of the boards open to see what it was made of and concluded there was nothing special about the boards except the name Tesla.

Flamethrowers

Elon Musk's Boring Company gets its name from the massive tunnels it plans to build, not because it lacks excitement — quite the opposite, actually. Although it's not technically Tesla, Boring makes one product that's simply too cool — and incredibly hot at the same time — to leave off the list. Boring raised $10 million with a limited run of 20,000 $500 flamethrowers, which sold out in four days. They look sort of like a cross between "Star Wars" Stormtrooper guns and Super Soaker water cannons, and although they do blast out a scary amount of fire, they're not technically flamethrowers — more along the lines of a giant butane torch. To get around that technicality, Musk aptly named his handheld incinerator the Not-a-Flamethrower.

Scale Model Miniatures

Tesla sells miniature diecast model cars for the car enthusiast who also loves collectibles. Meticulously detailed, the doors and trunk open, the tires are made of rubber, the seat belts are made of fabric, and the interior is carpeted. Altogether, the cars, which come in different models and cost $175 each, are built with more than 180 plastic and metal parts.

Desktop Superchargers

Tesla is famous for its Superchargers, nearly 13,000 incredibly fast charging stations spread out across the United States that power up Teslas in just a half hour. Tesla has also made exact replica scale models to keep on your desk, perhaps next to your Tesla miniature diecast model car. More than just a decoration, they're used to charge up cellphones. Whether or not they're as fast as Superchargers, they're just $35 if you want to put one to the test.

Related: Why I Drive an Electric Car

Powerbanks

You can take Tesla power with you wherever you go with a pocket-sized Powerbank. Powered by the same battery cells that made Tesla cars famous, Powerbanks are chargers you can take with you for those times when your phone's battery dies on the go. Just keep it charged, throw it in your bag, and pull out the $20 device whenever the need arises.

Drinkware

For $30, you can score a silver or black BPA-free and vacuum-insulated stainless steel water bottle or travel mug/tumbler emblazoned with the Tesla logo.

Hats

If you want to wear your Tesla pride on your head, you've got a nice selection of hats to choose from. For $25, you can pick up a baseball cap or a wool winter hat emblazoned with either the Tesla logo or just the word "Tesla."

Clothing

If you like your hat, you can round out your Musk-inspired wardrobe with an impressive selection of Tesla clothing, available in a rainbow of colors that includes black, white, and gray. They're well-made, but they aren't cheap. Tees cost $35, long sleeve shirts are $40, hoodies, sweatshirts, sweaters, and pullovers range from $50-$95, and jackets go for between $100-$180.