Tesla Motors boosts the high performance zero emissions all-electric road car

Many of you who have been following the low emission cars site since the early days may remember that we have been carrying the Tesla Motors banner, which provides a free link to the web site of that groundbreaking company that is producing the Tesla Roadster. The Roadster is now in production in the US (but is a while off as a production car for these shores).

During the time the Tesla banner has been' flying' so to speak here, there have been successes and setbacks for the project designed to deliver a full performance,and all-electric car.But the clear indications on the ground, in California, are that the technology and viability of the Roadster have been proved. So I am glad that we are now seeing the fruits of the endeavour which only a short while ago some commentators doubted they would see to market.

The red Roadster of the first Tesla banner has now made way (right column) for another colour (as above) 'on the road' version.

In the race to produce low emission cars, many manufacturers have opted for lower performance and/or smaller cars. Tesla Motors have always believed that you can have both super car performance - 0 to 60 mph acceleration in 3.9 seconds- and the fastest top gear acceleration of any production car tested by Car&Driver Magazine in 2007. With this extra efficiency come zero emissions.

You may say that this is of small impact - the supply and market will be small, and at the moment contained in the US- but the feasibility of producing the large volume stylish performance all-electric road car, the manufacturers claim is clear.

Hence to back up their belief, it has recently been announced that a sedan version of the Roadster will be built in California and will be produced towards the end of 2010. The company has always said it wanted to build affordable battery-electric cars, and is targeting the mid-range family use market. The Tesla accomplishment should encourage the other manufacturers who are producing or developing all-electric cars.

The Tesla Roadster is scheduled to be at the British Motor Show, as will be many electric cars from other companies,both production models and concepts.

Next up soon will be the Ze-O from the NICE car company.

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