Tesla Launches The Drive Change Electric Roadster Tour

Tesla Motors kicks off its Drive Change Electric Roadster Tour on May 14 in Colorado Springs. Special test drive events will be offered from Seattle, Washington to Naples, Florida, inviting prospective customers to get behind the wheel of the car that started the electric vehicle revolution.

“The Roadster served as the catalyst that made driving electric a reality, and has helped us refine electric technology for future models – Roadster owners are part of this important piece of history,” said Tesla VP of Sales John Walker. “Demand for the Roadster is strong as more people realize the benefits of EVs and see them outperform conventional cars without the emissions .”

Engineered for performance and efficiency, the Roadster accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds without using a drop of gasoline, and can travel 245 miles on a single battery charge. It can be plugged into any conventional electric outlet, and costs less than $8 to fully charge.

On top of saving dollars at the pump, the Roadster has a low cost of ownership, requiring zero oil changes and smog checks. And its lack of a complex combustion engine means less routine maintenance and fewer parts replacements. Tesla’s mobile service team travels to owners’ homes and offices to perform annual inspections and upgrades no matter where they are located.

The Roadster is also the only performance car that qualifies for financial incentives worldwide. U.S. customers receive a $7,500 tax credit, in addition to individual state incentives like $5,000 tax credits and sales tax waivers. Owners in most states benefit from automatic HOV lane access – and will continue to in California after HOV restrictions go into effect for hybrid vehicles on July 1, 2011.

To date, more than 1,600 Roadsters have been delivered in over 30 countries worldwide. Collectively, they have driven 11 million miles, giving Tesla more experience with electric driving than any other automaker.

Prospective customers interested in checking out the Roadster should visit the Drive Change Electric Roadster Tour schedule page at http://www.teslamotors.com/events.

ABOUT TESLA

Tesla's goal is to produce a full range of electric cars, from sports cars to mass-market vehicles – relentlessly driving down the cost of electric vehicles. It is currently the only U.S. automaker that builds and sells highway-capable EVs in serial production. Palo Alto, California-based Tesla designs and manufactures EVs and EV powertrain components. Tesla has delivered more than 1, 600 Roadsters to customers in North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific Region. Model S, the first premium sedan to be built from the ground up as an electric vehicle, goes on the market in mid-2012.

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