The Tesla Roadster:
By Ryan Casey

No tailpipe emissions, no oil changes. No spark plugs, pistons, radiators, alternators or clutches. Twice as energy-efficient as the Toyota Prius. Oh, and zero-to-60 in 3.7 seconds, all starting at $101,500.

There’s literally nothing else on the road like the Tesla Roadster, the only highway-capable electric car available for sale in the U.S.

“Tesla’s goal with the Roadster was to design a groundbreaking vehicle that pushes the boundaries of engineering and will allow us to create increasingly efficient and affordable premium electric cars,” says Khobi Brooklyn, a spokeswoman for Tesla. “The Roadster is proof of the concept that drivers don’t have to compromise design and performance when making a clean or ‘green’ decision. The Roadster is the most energy-efficient car on the road right now. It’s the best choice for drivers wanting a clean conscience.”

Being the only highway-capable electric car is a source of pride for Tesla, but the company’s goal “is to get as many electric cars on the road, period,” Brooklyn says.

“Our goal is to relentlessly drive down the cost of electric vehicles and make them more and more available for the masses,” she adds. “We hope to see more car companies put electric cars on the road and support all of those companies working towards the same goal as us.”

The battery pack, composed of 6,831 lithium-ion cells — the same ones found in laptops and camcorders — can take the Roadster 244 miles, and is one of the four main parts to the power train.

The power electronics controls the car, and is home to the firmware. It’s also where DC energy is converted to AC, and where the charger resides.

The rear-wheel drive Roadster has a single-speed transmission.

“There is no shifting or clutch work involved,” Brooklyn says.

The AC induction motor offers 288 horsepower. It’s based on the work of famed physicist and engineer Nikola Tesla.

“This system contains far fewer moving pieces than an internal combustion engine,” Brooklyn says. “Thanks to the system’s simplicity and unique torque characteristic, the Roadster is uniquely energy-efficient and suffers far less power and energy loss than in a typical gaspowered vehicle.”

The car uses three different types of chargers — the home charger, with a four-hour charge ($1,950), a universal mobile connector, with a six-hour charge (used for road trips; $1,500), and the spare mobile connector (for “topping off”; $600). All can be plugged into existing outlets, though an electrician must install the home charger.

Tesla estimates that its drivers save an average of $131 a month by not having to pay for gas (based on driving roughly 830 miles per month).

“At Tesla we have a passion for the future and in preserving the environment for the future,” Brooklyn says. “We make cars that have zero emissions. Electricity may be just one answer for driving clean or ‘being green,’ but it’s an especially desirable one. As the universal currency of energy, it can be generated from coal, solar, wind, hydro and nuclear sources — or a combination of all of them.”

Recently, Tesla Motors delivered its 1,000th Roadster. A year ago, the company celebrated delivering its 150th.

“Roadster sales enable us to continue working towards producing lower-priced, mass-market [electric vehicles],” Brooklyn says. “The more Roadsters we deliver, the better.”

In 2012, Tesla is set to begin production on the seven-passenger Model S, which will carry a $49,900 price tag after U.S. tax credit. It has a planned range of more than 300 miles, and will be able to accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in 5.6 seconds.

“The Model S is designed for optimal performance without sacrificing efficiency,” Brooklyn says.

Tesla Motors has 11 stores nationwide — one of which is at the intersection of Ninth and Pearl streets in Boulder.

“We have seen interest grow very quickly within the Boulder community and have continued success selling cars here,” Brooklyn says. “We are interested in making Roadsters available in as many markets as possible, and Boulder is a great market for us because the community here is very forward-thinking and passionate about the environment and technology.”

In February, the company announced a leasing program for the Roadster, offering a three-year, 30,000-mile lease for $12,453 due at signing, and $1,658 each month thereafter.

“We want as many people as possible to experience the Roadster, but we recognize that purchasing a new car, even a revolutionary one, is a big decision,” Brookyln says. “We began the leasing program to help make that easier.”

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