It may have been literally decades in the making, we may have had many a false dawn but it now seems as though the electric car is finally with us, but there is one problem. You will never hear it coming towards you!
News that the œ92,000 Tesla Roadster is now available on the roads has attracted the attention of the masses from car enthusiasts to the celebrity crowd looking to be greener than green. The car has a top speed of 125mph, can go from 0-60 in 3.9 seconds and will travel over 200 miles on one charge, which is mighty impressive. But will it receive universal acceptance or will it literally crash and burn?
The fact the car is of such a high spec as to be priced close to œ100,000 shows that Tesla Motors have done their homework and spotted an ideal entry level point for their ground breaking car. It is hoped that the vehicle will appeal to those with an interest in Aston Martins, Porsches and Ferraris, i.e. the high value end of the market.
However, there is one note of caution from road safety campaigners which is centred on the fact the car is so quiet. There are concerns that other road users and the public will not hear these cars coming towards them which could possibly increase the risk of accidents. There was talk of Tesla adding a recording of a more traditional engine noise to the vehicle for safety reasons but this has been shelved for the moment.