American Republic Online

  Is this sportscar really all-electric? As it turns out, yes.  Tesla motors has created a sportscar that can go 0-60 in 4 seconds, with a top speed of 130mph, and runs on batteries.  And it goes 250 miles between charges.  Where has this car been?  Someone has finally realized that in order for there to be a market for alternative-fuel cars, they can't look like space pods.  People don't want to drive around in something that looks like that, it has to look like a car/truck.  Honda was the first, I think, to realize this, and made their Civic Hybrid look just like the regular Civic.  Why is this so difficult to understand?  If I went to a dealer and asked to see an electric car, and they pointed to one of those bubbles on wheels, I'd have to go test drive a V8 truck with 8 wheels just help wash the stain of its image from my mind.  

Now, Tesla has a vehicle that is being built by Lotus, actually drives a significant distance, and will keep up on the highway.  Any surprise they sold out so quickly (even though it costs $100k)?  This has been one of my biggest barriers to embracing the "alternative fuel" vehicles.  I need a car that's as reliable as my Toyota, has a decent amount of endurance between "fill-ups," and looks great.

(A few other side notes are required.  I hate that the environmental movement has been hijacked by anti-capitalists (not all, but most).  It seriously clouds the issue.  Of course, I see the effects man has had on the Earth: the Smoky Mountains are now shrouded in a veil of smog.  Is it as bad as Al Gore claims?  I doubt it.  See, I think that our Earth is much more resilient than it is often given credit.  That's no excuse, however.  In addition, there's a whole crap load more oil out there than we think/say.  The supply isn't going to run out for decades.  BUT, who holds the supply does matter.  As much as I want to be begging Iran for oil in 10 years, we need to come up with something.  But supporters miss something crucial: we have to sell people on it too.  0-60 in 4 seconds, 135 miles per gallon equivalent, 1 cent per mile, and looks like something Bond would drive.  Sounds like a good start to me.  Install ever-cheapening solar panels on your roof, and the electric company will be paying you.  And that's just what's available right now.)