 Luxury Cars: Tesla Motors is electrifying
the auto industry with the introduction of its
revolutionary Tesla Roadster. Its performance numbers
are very impressive when compared to previous "green"
or eco-friendly vehicles. This is a pure EV. The car
is 100-percent electric. Its engine weighs 70 pounds.
There is no internal-combustion engine in the
Roadster. Its energy source, a lithium-ion battery, is
recharged from an electric power grid, which, in
simpler terms, means plugged in nightly for
recharging. The battery fully recharges in less than
four hours, and the car goes approximately 250 miles
per charge.
The real charge of the Tesla Roadster comes with its
performance. The two-seater is a two-speed automatic.
It goes from zero to 60 mph in around four seconds and
has a top speed of 130 mph. The cost per driven mile
with the sporty EV is one cent. Translating that info
to petroleum-based lingo, it equates to 135 miles per
gallon. Recommended maintenance checkups are every
25,000 miles or annually. The car has no air or oil
filters to replace or fluids to refill. A tire and
brake inspection is recommended at 100,000 miles.
Service centers will be located in Northern and
Southern California as well as Chicago, Miami, and
NYC, which is the same areas the car will be available
initially. The electric drive train of the EV does
require special servicing, which at this time is
available only through Tesla. Future expansion is part
of the company's plans.
The Roadster has a dozen color options. Red, green and
black are the solid colors along with nine very
vibrant metallic tones. A hardtop version is optional.
The interior is simple but very classy. The Los
Angeles Times reported that the price of the EV is
expected to be in the $100,000 range, and less than 40
of the original 100 have been sold so far.
The rollout date for the innovative EV is summer 2007.
The first 100 manufactured, which are labeled the
Signature One Hundred Collector's Edition Tesla
Roadster, are available now. Prospective buyers or
curious info seekers can obtain details at Tesla
Motors' website.
For LxM James Rothaar
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