Electric Sports Cars

Can an electric car be beautiful and fun to drive? Yes, according to Tesla Motors, makers of the first-ever electric sports car that actually works. The Roadster retails for around $100,000―much less than the Venturi Fetish, an electric sports car made in Monaco by hand and selling for $600,000.

The Evolution of Electric Sports Cars...So Far

While electric cars have been around for over 100 years, they have barely taken off. Until recently, the technology wasn't practical enough. Batteries were smaller and less powerful, you needed special stations to charge the cars, and they couldn't make it more than 100 miles without being recharged. Today's electric vehicles are far more feasible than they were in the past. Now, they perform just as well as gas-powered vehicles (Tesla does 0 to 60 in 4 seconds), and even look pretty.

In the past few decades, battery technology has improved dramatically. In fact, Tesla spent much of its design time working on its battery. Software and semiconductors have also gotten better, drawing interest from engineers all around Silicon Valley.

If you're looking for something more fun than any hybrid gas/electric vehicle on the market and have the cash, this is the car for you. Tesla Motors worked with British sports car maker Lotus on the design of its curves. This car gets its power from a regular electrical outlet, and like other electric vehicles, doesn't need tune-ups or oil changes. It's also twice as fuel-efficient as the Prius. In terms of looks, speed, and performance, it's as good as a Porsche or Ferrari.

What's In Store for the Future?

Tesla plans to release an all-electric sedan in a few years, with a price tag of about $50,000. Considering the overall cost of ownership, and its low impact on the environment, the price is probably less than that of gas-powered vehicles, making it a real bargain.

A handful of other startups in Silicon Valley and elsewhere are also working on all-electric sports cars. In a few years look for cars made by Universal Electric Vehicles (the Spyder), Commuter Cars (the Tango), and an SUV made by Phoenix Motorcars.