That is solely and utterly because of Tesla. The reason for the demand was to build electric cars which Tesla and only Tesla, building butt load of BEVs required. Everybody else before Tesla showed up was either making hybrids with minuscule capacity requirement or low range BEVs in low volumes.
> There are also a lot of small-time car manufacturers, with quite a few specializing on electric vehicles even.
Again, all because or Tesla. They are all riding on Tesla’s success. Why do you think Rivian IPO was greater than century old car makers marker cap making multi million number of vehicles a year where Rivian made none?!! Tesla.
> there would most likely be another company filling this space right now
That is a pointless statement you can say about anyone at any time in history which is to say nothing. You can’t go back in time and let this play out by someone else. Elon is the one who did all this and we’re stuck with this history.