Electric car gets speed boost with the Tesla Roadster

20 July 2006 21:11 GMT / By Stuart Miles

The electric car movement got a major push forward today with the unveiling of the Telsa Roadster at the British Motor Show in London this week.

The new motor is the first performance electric car manufactured by Tesla Motors and promises high-performance with zero-emissions.

The electric-powered Tesla Roadster boasts a top speed of more than 130 mph and a range of 250 miles on a single charge. The company behind the car say its extended range is due to its state-of-the-art lithium-ion Energy Storage System.

The Tesla Roadster is capable of accelerating from 0-60 mph in about four seconds beating the new Jaguar XKR also unveiled at the show.

The body design of the Tesla Roadster, which included a collaborative effort by the company's employees, has been headed by Barney Hatt, Principal Designer at the Lotus Design Studio in England. The result is a sleek, stylish sports car that takes a lot of its cues from the Lotus Elise.

The Tesla Roadster comes complete with its Electric Vehicle Service Equipment (EVSE), a home-based charging system. An optional mobile charging kit, for re-charging while away from the EVSE, also features this automatic disconnect system. Charging the Tesla Roadster takes approximately 3.5 hours.

Tesla says it has already signed up a number of customers for the $80,000 car, and hopes to start deliveries next summer.