In a new era of fuel efficiency and green living, cool cars have taken a backseat to more earth-friendly sedans and hybrids. Sky rocketing gas prices and the imminent threat of global warming have many of us downsizing both our engines and our time spent on the road. As most American automobile companies struggle to keep their engines running, Tesla Motors has found a way to produce an automobile that combines our need for speed and a craving for saving...the planet.
Unfortunately, the compromise does exist, as usual, with our wallets. The 2008 Tesla Roadster sold for just over $100K before tax, plus fees for repairs and maintenance that could only be done at Tesla Motor locations (due to the complexity of the electric drive train, parts, etc.). Its specs were quite impressive, but the price and wait list are more than most consumers can stomach.
Luckily, Tesla's newest release, the Model S sedan, rings up at half the price of its other models. Unfortunately, even this environmentally friendly endeavor has been affected by the downturn in the economy. It may be a few years before the Tesla Model S becomes a common household name, but Tesla Motors hopes to eventually produce enough sedans that they can compete with other hybrid vehicle firms in the market.
Whether or not individuals will be willing to spend $50K on an all-electric car is still up for grabs. As technology improves, it will be up to the company with the interest and ability to harness its power and lower production costs that will eventually come out on top. Hopefully competition will improve the quality on all forms of production and we will no longer be required to compromise keen for green. For now, you can find me riding my bike to work and class, and shoving any extra money I find into my Tesla Motors IPO fund.
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Around the world hundreds of cities participated in a voluntary black out in hopes of sending a message to the UN council on environmental regulations. Landmarks dimmed in support of "greener" legislation and as a reminder of our dependence on electric energy. I think that the effects of this movement won't be immediately visible as many global leaders are currently distracted by economic issues. Hopefully a balance can be found between the two and we can turn the lights back on. Until then I'll reading by candlelight and waking up to a potato-powered alarm clock.
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