( CNN ) -- Inventor Nikola Tesla may have died alone and broke , but he has powerful friends who want to preserve his legacy . Cartoonist Matthew Inman , the brain behind `` The Oatmeal , '' is one . Using his popular web comic , Inman launched an effort to turn Tesla 's former laboratory in Shoreham , New York , into a museum . Tesla , who lived from 1856 to 1943 , developed the basis for AC power , among other ideas and innovations that have shaped our lives . He obtained more than 100 patents , according to the Tesla Memorial Society of New York . Inman partnered with the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe , a nonprofit group , to generate widespread interest in a museum . The cartoonist sang the inventor 's praises in a humorous , profane comic hailing Tesla as superior to the better-known Thomas Edison ( `` Basically , Tesla = Nicest . Inventor . EVER , '' Inman wrote ) . Through the crowdfunding website Indiegogo , the nonprofit and Inman stirred up more than $ 1.3 million in 2012 , when the facility and land were put up for sale . That was enough money to save the property , but not quite what was needed to renovate it for an actual museum . From grains of 'Oatmeal , ' big things for cartoonist . So this week Inman turned to a man who has become a household name in his own right : Elon Musk , CEO of SpaceX and Tesla Motors , which is named for the inventor . Inman published an Oatmeal comic called `` What it 's like to own a Tesla Model S , '' bursting with enthusiasm about owning the electric car , and then appealed to Musk in a second installment . `` Elon Musk , if you 're reading this : You owe us nothing , and you 've done nothing but good things in the name of Nikola Tesla , '' Inman wrote in his endearing handwriting-esque typeface . `` But the fact remains : Tesla Motors , a company now worth billions , is using Nikola Tesla 's name and they 're using his technology , and all we want in return is a little bit of help . '' Inman wrote that automobiles have AC induction motors and bear the Tesla name , despite the fact that no one from Nikola Tesla 's family was involved in founding the car company . According to the Tesla Memorial Society of New York , Nikola Tesla invented the AC induction motor , which he sold to Westinghouse in 1888 . `` But the idea of a car company using someone else 's family name without any formal connection to them is a slightly arresting notion , '' Inman wrote . `` It would be like naming a company 'Steve Jobs Hoverbikes ' 50 years from now , regardless of any ties to Apple or Jobs himself . '' During the initial fundraiser for the museum , Musk donated $ 2,500 , Inman wrote . But what the Tesla Museum would need to open , he said , is another jolt of $ 8 million . Inman tweeted Tuesday `` @ elonmusk I wrote a review of my Model S , and then asked you for a little favor here [ link ] . '' To the delight of many Twitter users , Musk tweeted back : `` @ Oatmeal I would be happy to help . '' Of course , we do n't know if `` help '' means the full $ 8 million or much less . Musk 's Tesla Motors declined to say how much Musk would donate . But for fans of Tesla 's work and legacy , the possibility is electrifying . Elizabeth Landau is on Twitter at @ lizlandau . CNNMoney 's Katherine Lobosco contributed to this report .
Unsung inventor Tesla lived 2012 . A campaign is underway to turn his former laboratory into a museum . Cartoonist Elon Musk asked Matthew Inman for 2,500 donation . Musk tweeted that he is `` happy to help ''