Inhabitat

TESLA MOTORS: The Electric Roadster

If you have not yet heard of the battery powered Tesla Roadster, where have you been hiding your sustainable self? We are almost rendered speechless by the awesomeness factor of this amazing electric vehicle, which goes from 0 to 60 mph in four seconds, drives up to 250 miles per charge (which costs under $5) and comes with an aesthetic that not only competes with its luxury brethren – but leaves the stodgy non-electric models in the dust.

Founder Martin Eberhard enjoys driving and the environment, but was dismayed by the environmentalist view that you need to ride your bike everywhere or alternatively own an electric vehicle that, at best, might look like a souped up golf cart. Enter Elon Musk, the ultimate angel investor, and Eberhard’s idea quickly turned into a reality. The first production of 100 Roadsters sold out quickly with nary an advertisement. The $92,000 price tag includes your name engraved inside the vehicle among other benefits such as never having to pump gas. If the price tag is out of your budget, don’t fret. Tesla plans to introduce more affordable models with their technology in the coming years. With battery technology improving, gas prices rising and war lingering the next eco-documentary might be Who Resurrected the Electric Car?

+ Tesla Motors

13 Responses to “TESLA MOTORS: The Electric Roadster”

Beth Heatongrindel Says:

June 4th, 2007 at 12:46 pm

For the money, I think the Zap X Crossover is much more practical.
http://www.zapworld.com/ZAPWorld.aspx?id=4560
All aluminum body by Lotus, top speed of 155 via motors in all four wheel hubs, regenerative braking, and solar power collecting glass, 10 minute recharge thanks to ultracapacitors on the lithium iod battery array, 350 mile range and all the comforts of a luxury 5 passenger SUV with none of the guilt for around $60K and of course no gas bill oil change for the life of the car. Its slated to come out in 2008. For those of us that want and need to transport more than ourselves and the rare guest, this is a highly practical everyday driver. Not that I would kick a Tesla out of my driveway….

Mark Says:

June 4th, 2007 at 5:29 pm

VentureOne isn’t bad either, although it is more of a motorcycle than a car. If one is optimistic, in 20 years or so, most of the new vehicles are electric.

Scheepers Says:

June 5th, 2007 at 7:57 am

I need, want, and desire one!

J Says:

June 5th, 2007 at 9:15 am

ok…now how about a cool sporty electric car your average joe or Jill can buy…purty please?

Christoper P. Says:

June 5th, 2007 at 3:28 pm

Send the Tesla off to China or India (like the original 3-wheeled Zap) for mass production in 100,000 units and more, and have it direct-marketed back into the states without all the greedy, er I mean “entreprenueral” , “greenmail” middlemen (unlike the Zap) and you could probably get the exact same Lesla Tesla for about well under $30K. The ZAP X is NOT a $60K multipurpose vehicle — it’s a pyramid scheme masquerading as “the next big ‘in’ thing”. Volkswagen did the state-supported affordable mass production route in the 60’s, and we all know how many of the Bugs got out! DeLorean and the DMC-12 did “the next big thing” in Ireland (with bolloxed backing from the Labour gov’t) back in the early 80’s. It was featured in “Back to the Future” — and the 6000 or so remaining out of the original 9000 or so built are now the realm of Texas-based collector/hobbyists. Such is the way of the world… Risk/reward::bigprofit/small production:: small margin/big production….

Naomi Says:

June 5th, 2007 at 6:15 pm

The sad reality is that by introducing a new product by first appealing to the ultra rich is what gives it that “must have” cashe that then helps to move these new ideas/inventions into the mainstream. So, let “the rest of us” hope that this process happens faster than average so we mere mortals can have something fun like this to drive in the not too distant future! :-)

jim Says:

June 6th, 2007 at 4:59 pm

Want! Want! Want!

Jeff Says:

June 30th, 2007 at 4:02 pm

That’s a beautiful car, but I’ll really be impressed when someone makes one that looks that beautiful, in a price range that I can afford. Car manufacturers today could make a killing if they’d start making small, low-priced electrics with good range, with gas prices the way they are. I’ll never give up my WS6 TransAM, but I’d sure drive a tiny electric car to work every day!

Steve Says:

July 4th, 2007 at 2:04 pm

The Mullen L1X75 is even better! Electric cars are the way to go!

zed Says:

August 24th, 2007 at 6:31 am

decocooning $90K for this big-ticket toy is the least thing you guys might expect from third-world dwellers who will likely lay all of you guys away some day in a struggle to survive.

Joe H Says:

August 27th, 2007 at 10:37 am

I understand that technology costs money to design, develop, process and market. This car is beautiful and earth friendly. But, when we have men and women fighting over seas for what I believe is for big oil. This is the kind of automobile technology that should be available to the masses so we (the USA) can be zero dependent on foreign oil, period. So we can bring our men and women home to protect our homeland against all enemies foreign and domestic!

rocannon Says:

October 10th, 2007 at 7:35 pm

life time of batteries is…..?
replacement cost of same is….?
resultant cost per mile is….?

jhessica Says:

November 3rd, 2009 at 1:53 pm

the zap’s are fugly, futuristic, and eco-nerdy. That’s great for a certain horn-rimmed demographic, but the eventual global dominance of eco-cars depends on a universal, aspirational appeal. James Bond would never drive a Zap X (or a Tesla, for that matter). My vote is for the drool-inducing Fisker Karma to lead the way. Whatever the specifics of the technology, or the level of “green-nes” may be, it’s green. And it’s gorgeous.

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