Tesla to go on sale here

Niche US electric carmaker Tesla Motors is likely to become the first brand to sell an electric car in Australia, beating both the Mitsubishi i-MIEV and Nissan Leaf to market. Industry website GoAuto says the US-owned company is readying a local launch of its Lotus Elise-based two-seater Roadster. The company's first dealership is expected to be in Sydney.

One Melbourne-based dealer keen to watch the Tesla rollout is the managing director of Zagame Ferrari and Maserati, Bobby Zagame. "It will certainly be interesting," he says. Zagame has seen the cars in the UK and believes they present an interesting option for cashed-up buyers in the supercar market. Would he like to get on board with a dealership?

"Not really, I don't know what to expect out of something like that," he says. "I understand they will still be expensive but they may appeal to a wealthy client who wants that technology."

The Roadsters sells in the US for about $130,000 and is expected to have a local pricetag above $200,000, according to GoAuto. The first cars are tipped to go on sale in August after completing homologation. The Roadster has been on sale in the UK since January.

The Tesla uses lithium-ion batteries and a 375-volt air-cooled electric motor to generate 215kW/370Nm. A Sport version adds an extra 30Nm of torque. Like the Elise, the car is a light-weight rear-drive two-seater that with the battery pack, tips the scales at 1238kg.

It has supercar-like acceleration, hitting 100km/h in 3.9 seconds and can reach an electronically limited top speed of 200km/h. The Roadster has a combined highway and city range of 393km with an expected battery life of seven-years or 160,000km.

To fully charge the car takes about 3.5 hours using a conventional 240-volt outlet. GoAuto says the cars are expected to have Tesla's standard power connectors that allow low, medium and high charging options. The low-charge system allows overnight charging while the high-charge takes about four hours.

In the US these connectors cost between $US600 and $US3000 and the battery pack costs $US12,000 to replace. Tesla sells the Roadster in 21 countries and has so far sold more than 1000 globally.
It is well advanced with plans to build a sleek family sedan, called the S with deliveries to start in the US in 2012.

The S has a similar range to the Roadster but proper sedan-like seating for five plus two child seats. In the US it will have a starter price of $US49,900, which includes a $US7500 government tax credit.
The car is expected to be built in right-hand drive.

Tesla's fortunes have risen in recent weeks after Japanese giant Toyota announced it was investing more than $50 million into the company to help develop cars and electric components.

What makes it go?

Battery: Microprocessor controlled lithium-ion battery pack
Motor: 215kW three-phase electric with 14,000 rev limit and regenerative braking
Torque: 370Nm from zero to 5500 revs
Transmission: Single-speed gearbox
Chassis: Bonded extruded aluminium monocoque chassis
Brakes: Four-wheel Brembo discs
Body: Hand-crafted carbon fibre.