Tesla Motors has been slowly but surely making headway in the American auto market. Their impressive foray into the world of auto manufacturing had Everest-sized obstacles to overcome. First they had to get America to believe an electric car could work for daily life. Then they had to build the company and a car, all on a much smaller budget than their hybrid competition. The result was the Tesla roadster; a car that does 0-60 in 3.7 seconds, and looks good doing it, without the need for “dinosaur juice.” And they are still here, and still growing. Despite the economic down-turn they had 500 orders for their new Tesla S in the first week.
But the public are still wary about electric cars. They worry about practicality,notably finding charging stations and limited range. To help assuage these fears Tesla is doing a rally from Los Angeles to Detroit. The Tesla Roadster Road Trip will begin on December 17th, with 16 different Tesla employees driving a Tesla Roadster Sport 2,700 miles. Each employee will drive a different stage, making 17 stops along the way (to re-charge and promote the brand), and finishing at the Detroit International Auto Show January 8th. They will be pushing the limits of the advertised 244 mile range. One particular leg is a ballsy 250 miles long, so that driver will be running on the electronic version of “fumes.”
But if all goess well it will give a big boost to Tesla’s credibility as a practical car. They want to show people this car is not just for city driving and short (but fast) mountain blasts, but is a fully-capable automobile. This is a good way to do it. Tesla has already shown the world “green” technology doesn’t have to limit us to boring, soap-shaped Prius clones. If this trip goes well,it will be one more trial Tesla has passed on its way to longevity.
-
A Tesla in Colorado. A testament to their durability.
