Burn Rubber, Not Gasoline

I am a car nut. I also love technology. Any time these two industries meet up together, I am a happy guy. Although electric vehicles have had a rocky start the last few decades, it seems that a few companies are making leaps and bounds relatively quietly. One of the more notable, Tesla Motors, has recently been making a few headlines. Imagine a car that has Porsche-like performance, Lotus-like appearance, yet only costs about a penny per mile to drive.

It is by no means the cheapest electric vehicle choice out there, but very well may be the most practical to date. The motivating factor behind this is the Tesla’s incredible range. The company claims a 250 mile range before needing a recharge. That takes this from being a limited commuter car to a practical second vehicle. You still can’t reasonably drive it across the country, but there aren’t many people out there with the need to drive more than 250 miles a day. All you have to do is park it in the garage at night, plug it in, and it’s ready again for you in the morning.

Electric vehicles aren’t necessarily better for the environment, but they can be. It all depends on where your electric company derives its energy source from. If they are using hydro, wind based, or other environment friendly means, then the Tesla Roadster effectively becomes a zero emissions vehicle, reduces our dependency on petroleum based fuels, and ultimately makes the world a better place for our children. The roadster is currently sold out for 2007, and orders are already being lined up for 2008. Not everyone will be able to afford one yet, but as they become more popular and mass-production options bring the initial cost down, don’t be surprised if you see one next to you at the stop light. Don’t worry though, when he leaves you in the dust, it will be a much cleaner and quieter experience than you are used to.