The Tesla Roadster : World’s First Environmentally Friendly Luxury Toy
How does going from 0-60MPH faster than Lamborghini sound? Did I mention this can be done without a single visit to your local shell station? The Tesla Roadster is here to stay as the hybrid for the next generation of electric vehicles. The ground-breaking technology that Tesla Motors brings to the table with the introduction of the Tesla Roadster has surely set the bar for the future of the automotive industry. Powered by more than 6,800 individual rechargeable lithium ion batteries, the Tesla Roadster is ready-to-go after less than 3.5 hours of charging in your home garage. An even cooler perk, Tesla calls Regenerative Braking, sends an electrical charge back into your battery extending its life beyond the initial charge life. Today, a similar technology exists in the Toyota Camry and Prius. However, have you ever seen a Prius push 60 MPH on the freeway? Yeah, neither have I.
An obvious downside to most electric vehicles on the market today is driving distance a single charge can output. However, the Roadster speeds past this industry fear as if it were a minor “road bump”. In fact, the Roadster flattens it. Tesla’s new ground-breaking battery as well as the Regenerative Braking allows the Roadster to travel more than two times farther than other electric vehicle available; over 200 miles on a single charge. Incredible, eh?
The Tesla Roadster’s Lotus-like body lines make for an eye-catching car, which is not only fun to drive, but also fun to look at, too. Another feature is the carbon fiber body which has an obvious impact on the overall weight of the Roadster.
The simplicity and engineering alone in the Tesla Roadster’s engine makes it worth the $109,000 price tag. A conventional, gas powered vehicle consists of hundreds of mechanical parts which all require some form of maintenance as the car ages. The revolutionary powertrain of the Roadster consists of only four components: the battery, motor (did I mention the motor weighs less than 150lbs and puts out 248HP?), the transmission, and the Power Electronics Module (PEM). As an electric car, electronics control many of the features of the car. This is where the PEM comes into play, acting as the system controlling the car.
The Tesla Roadster certainly can be seen as the most revolutionary idea to hit the automotive market since the beginning. However, since production is only in its earliest stages, and delivery to customers has yet to begin, reliability, performance, and efficiency are obvious concerns. However, in a world where miles per dollar is becoming more important, one can only hope that the successes of the early production Tesla Roadster are a sign for the changes it will bring to the automotive world in the future. Who could possibly turn down the fun you can have in the Tesla Roadster for only $.02/mile (and a $109,000 MSRP price)?
To reserve your Tesla Roadster today, visit the Tesla Motors website. While you wait for your Roadster to arrive, check out the video below.
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Comment by Chris on 8 June 2008:
Wait, when does the car arrive then? And, do you know what the available colors are?
Comment by Fe on 9 June 2008:
Not trying to be pessimistic, but most of us men are attracted by the sound the car makes. Yes the speed and power of it is important, but until now this has been directly connected to the loud sound of the car. We all can tell when a Ferrari is coming. How are they going to fix this? Or are we going to have to change the way we view cars. No offense but that little electric noise sounds very effeminate. Kinda like a golf cart
Comment by Hood on 9 June 2008:
The available colors are pretty much what you’d expect with a pretty wide range to choose from. All the way from they call “Very Orange” to a more sinister “Obsidian Black” (13 colors in total, for a full list check here: http://www.teslamotors.com/design/exterior_colors.php)
The 2008 model year reservation slots are 100% full. However, the 2009 model year can still be reserved with a $55,000 deposit. Expected delivery is 12 months after the initial deposit.
In response to Fe:
Although I made the initial comparison of the Tesla Roadster to a Lamborghini in the review, that was really only for numbers sake and to show exactly what an electric car is capable of. In all reality, I highly doubt any sort of electric car will ever be able to replace the feeling a true car enthusiast gets upon hearing a Lamborghini LP640 or a Ferrari F430 at 6,000RPMs. To be fair, I probably should not have made the initial comparison because The Tesla Roadster and traditional exotic vehicles are in completely different leagues in my opinion.
With that being said, the technology that the Tesla Roadster brings to the table certainly is revolutionary in the electric car world because it shows what IS possible for this new bread of vehicles in the future.