Sporty Electric Car Almost Ready for U.S. Roads

Wired News reports that startup operation Tesla Motors has secured financing to build its all-electric Roadster, and build a dealership network to sell and service the cars.  The first dealership "is slated to open in Los Angeles by the end of March," with three more scheduled for 2008.  "The company has spent 18 months developing the car and has the powertrain pretty much nailed. Plans call for a full electric version with a price approaching $70,000 and a range-extended electric setup along the lines of the Chevrolet Volt in the $50K ballpark."  The sporty two-seater, powered by a lithium-ion battery pack and a one-speed transmission, will be featured on the cover of the March issue of Automobile Magazine.  The Magazine claims the 2008 Tesla Roadster will offer 0 to 60 times of "less than five seconds" and travel a range of "just over 200 miles" after five hours plugged into a standard 220-volt household outlet to charge.  Automobile also offers video of a Tesla road test.  In an earlier posting, Wired offered photos of the Roadster, adding, "There are just so many gorgeous things about this car -- the muscular shape, the sharp crease of the beltline, the tasteful use of carbon fiber. The fact it's an electric vehicle only makes it sexier."  The San Jose Business Journal adds, "The entire production run of the 2008 Tesla Roadster is sold out and the company is currently taking orders for the 2009 model year."  Production of the Roadster is scheduled to begin March 17, and Tesla says it plans to develop a four-door sedan next. 

Tesla may not plan to compete with the big automakers for long, however.  Greentech Media reports that Tesla "is extending an olive branch to the Big Three."  The company "wants to partner with a large automaker that can manufacture its third model at high volumes."  That "third model" is "expected to be a compact sports car" that Tesla Chairman Elon Musk has "previously said would cost between $30,000 and $35,000."  While the company "plans to manufacture its first two models on its own -- with a planned annual production run in the tens of thousands for its second model -- it sounds like the company has reconsidered the idea of competing with the major-league manufacturers in favor of a production partnership."  A relationship with one of Detroit's big three would give the small company a built-in dealership network to bring the electric cars to a larger market.