Tesla Motors recently unveiled their Tesla Roadster to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.  The Roadster is an electric car that can reach one hundred thirty (130 mph) and goes from zero to sixty (0 mph to 60 mph) in four (4) seconds!  Tesla is primarily a California dealership that’s expanding into other areas and reports the car will be shipping in the Fall of 2007.  Whether they meet their chosen deadline for delivery in 2007 isn’t as important as the fact that a company is proving that a battery cell vehicle is capable of running better than most traditional gasoline engines.  With hydrogen-powered fuel cell automobiles being pushed back another decade, the market is ripe for companies to solve the gasoline conundrum with alternative methods of powering an engine.

Hybrid (combination electric and gasoline power) and alternative fuel (vegetable oil) are definitely steps in the right direction, but some people I speak to seem think that these cars are wimpy, i.e. the engines lack power, or hippy, i.e. their owners lack power.  I’m as guilty as anyone.  I drive a big SUV.  It’s not that I like looking down on other drivers, it’s just that I don’t like looking up at the backs of trucks, vans, buses, and other SUV’s like I do when I drive my wife’s car.  I also like it because I never have to worry if something I just purchased is going to fit in it.  It’s as comfortable as sitting on a leather couch with your feet up on a hassock.  It handles New England’s snowy roads and I’ve even driven through a river a couple times while camping up in the mountains.

When we replace my wife’s car, we may get a hybrid, or at minimum one with good gas mileage.  Most major automotive companies have already or are starting to release hybrid models.  The American companies delayed continuing development and delivery of hybrids until after Toyota showed that it could be a successful and profitable segment of business, so they’re getting to the party a little late.  As a result, Ford, GM, and Chrysler may suffer in sales for a while and thus be unable to recoup their development costs until much later.  I believe in buying American and each company has a nice hybrid offering.  I’ll probably buy American; I always have.

You may note that I said “when we replace my wife’s car” not my truck.  I continue to emphasize her car and my truck because we’ve had these vehicles since before we met and married.  It’s silly, really, because she usually drives my truck so she can use the car seat and transport the stroller.  I drive hers to work each day to save on gas money.  Hers is Japanese.  Mine would crush it in a fight.  Because we need the room and safety the truck affords and since we already own it, we’ll probably hold onto it for a few more years.  The next vehicle to be replaced will probably be hers.

Americans should show their support for alternative power engines.  As more consumers buy these vehicles, American companies and government will need to show their support of these decisions and provide more choices and a better infrastructure.  Better advertising is needed.  The U.S. government will give you a tax credit (that’s direct money back, not tax deduction which only reduces the amount on which you’re taxed and thus is only worth a percentage of its listed value) for purchasing an alternative fuel vehicle.  Many state governments have similar incentives; more if you just so happen to manage a fleet of municipal vehicles.  The rules for hybrids and electric differ, so please note the distinction.  There are a lot of good reasons to own one of these cars, even besides the steep price at the pump.  And it’s good to see a company like Tesla Motors is adding more fuel to the fire.  So to speak.

"To keep a lamp burning we have to keep putting oil in it.”
Mother Teresa