Tesla’s Electric Car for the (Well-Off) Masses
With the economy in the tank and oil prices low, most drivers have more to worry about than their gas bills. Still, the prospect of a Silicon Valley company shaking up the moribund automobile industry with a new all-electric car was enough to draw a crowd for the Mar. 26 unveiling of Tesla Motors’ Model S.
The first electric car produced by entrepreneur Elon Musk, the South Africa-born co-founder of PayPal, caused a sensation when it rolled out in 2006. The Tesla Roadster was a low-slung, $109,000 rocket ride, with a body based on the Lotus Elise and capable of going from zero to 60 miles per hour in 3.9 seconds. It was among the first cars to marry an all-electric engine with the looks and speed of a sports car. Musk’s company, Tesla Motors, claims to have sold 1,200 Roadsters, with 250 delivered to wealthy, tech-savvy eco-enthusiasts in such places as Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, and New York.
