Sports car with a spark: Waiting buyers get taste of Tesla

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Spurred by the early success Tesla's Roadster, which has sold outits first year's production, a number of competitors are beginningto roll out electricity-powered luxury models. These include the Karma, a plug-in hybrid sport coup developed bythe Irvine, Calif.-based startup Fisker automotive. The companyplans to put that vehicle on the market for $80,000 to $100,000late next year. In addition, auto-industry behemoths like Toyota Motors Corp.,General Motors Corp. and Mitsubishi are developing their own linesof all-electric or hybrid vehicles.

Amid this mounting competition, Tesla is hoping the Roadster willbe local drivers' first choice for eco-friendly luxury cars. To power the Roadster, drivers must run a custom-made power cord,roughly the size of a garden hose, from a dock on the vehicle'sshiny metal exterior to a generator or external socket, preferablyone with a 220-volt circuit like those used to power a home oven orelectric dryer. The smaller, 110-volt sockets used for a living room lamp ortelevision set also will suffice for powering the car's 1,000-poundbattery. But charging that way could take as long as 30 hours,compared with eight hours on a larger circuit, Allen said.

When fully charged, the Tesla can drive for roughly 225 milesbefore its batteries are depleted. While reducing fuel costs, the Tesla's electric power system posesseveral challenges for drivers. One potential issue is the lack of an infrastructure for rechargingthe vehicles: Drivers planning road trips may have to make specialarrangements to have access to a roadside power supply for "toppingoff" the battery, Allen said.

On a recent promotional trip, she said, two Tesla's salesrepresentatives were forced to run the car's power cord through anopen window to a socket in their ground-floor motel room in orderto "top off" overnight. Another potential issue is maintenance, said Joe Powers, a salesand analytics manager for Tesla, who is helping promote theRoadster at the Hyatt this weekend.

If the Roadster were to break down, he said, most traditionalmechanics would be clueless about how to fix its all-electricengine. To address these challenges, Tesla has begun taking a many steps,including launching a Web site where Roadster owners can view - andcontribute to - a list of hotels, restaurants and other roadsidestops across the country that offer convenient access to a powersource. Additionally, the car company is planning to open a group ofmaintenance facilities in its primary markets, including one forNew York and Connecticut, by the end of next year.

"By the time most people actually own these cars, they'll have aplace where they can bring them once a year (for a) check-up,"Powers said as he drove through Old Greenwich in the Roadsterprototype yesterday. Powers said the price of batteries for electric cars will declineand the availability of roadside power sources will growsignificantly in the years ahead as more auto companies enter theelectric and hybrid market. For now, though, Tesla plans to sell its luxury products largely onthe appeal of its eco-friendliness, Allen said.

"We're in a wealthy area," Patrick added, "so, while gas pricesaren't as much of an issue, you can still feel like you'refulfilling your green responsibility and reducing your carbonfootprint with a car like this."