Tesla Roadster
From Green Wiki
Tesla Motors has set out to prove that driving green doesn't have to be boring with their new Tesla Roadster, a 100% electric sports car.
The 2008 roadster boasts:
- 0 to 60 miles per hour in 3.9 seconds
- 13,000 rpm redline
- 135 miles per gallon equivalent
- 220 miles per charge
- estimated costs of less than $0.02 per mile to drive
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[edit] Environmental Benefits
- zero emissions when driving
- cuts dependence on foreign oil (transportation accounts for 63% of oil consumption in the United States)
- through a partnership with [1] Solar City, Tesla customers can add solar options to their homes
[edit] Charging and Batteries
The Tesla Roadster can drive approximately 220 miles on a single charge.
It takes about 3.5 hours to charge a completely dead battery. After a 100-mile trip, the battery can be recharged in less than two hours.
The Roadster has an optional mobile-charging kit that lets you charge from most standard electrical outlets when you are away from home.
The Roadster's regenerative braking feature recovers and stores energy "lost" when you slow down. A charge is sent back to the battery, helping to extend the charge.
The Roadster uses a lithium ion battery, with an estimated 100,000 miles of driving before you will see a gradual loss in performance. The cost of battery recycling is included in each car. (Tires can also be recycled.)
[edit] Cost and incentives
Tesla is currently accepting reservations for the 2009 Roadster. The base price is $109,000, and requires a $60,000 refundable reservation fee. The wait time to delivery is estimated at 12 months.
Depending on where you live, you may be eligible for the following incentives:
- Access to carpool lanes with just one occupant in the car
- Income tax credit (pending new legislation)
- Exemption from the luxury car tax
- Free parking at charging stations at Los Angeles International Airport
- No parking meter fees in a number of major metropolitan areas
[edit] Awards
2008:
- PR Week - Honorable Mention for Corporate Branding Campaign & Technology Campaign of the Year
2007:
- Business Week - Best Product Design of 2007, Ecodesign
- CarDomain - People's Choice: Most Exciting Car Launch
- INDEX - INDEX Award
- TechCrunch - TechCrunchie for Best Clean Tech Startup
- Wired - Autopia Car of the Year
