Motoring Blog

EcoGeek reports that the first Tesla Roadsters are rolling off the production line. The electric car which can reach a top speed of 125mph costs $100,000. That might seem a little pricey for a zero-emission environmentally friendly car, but the idea of shaping the future today has attracted many high profile customers.

Though the $100,000 price tag is a bit steep, and Tesla will only be able to produce one or two cars a week (at least at first), 900 people have already reserved a Roadster. Included in that list are Dustin Hoffman, George Clooney, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Despite all of the uncertainty and delays along the way, that’s a big deal. Tesla already has proved that green can be cool.

Meanwhile, other manufacturers are looking to the future too. EcoGeek also reports that the first air-powered cars should be available in the United States by 2010. The MDI air-powered car can hit 95mph and travel over 800 miles before refilling. Somewhat ironically, there is a catch.

A small petrol engine heats the air, providing the extra energy necessary to get the car up to 95 MPH and more than triples the vehicle’s range. So, indeed, you will have to fill up both a gasoline tank and an air tank to get the car to work.

[...] The other bad news is that you’ll be burning gasoline … which kinda defeats the purpose, right?

Well, not so, says the blog. Below 35mph there is no need to use petrol at all and when an alternate energy source can heat the air, there should also be no use for petrol.

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