Yeah it might be fast, but how many times can it go down the 1/4 mile at full race power back to back (what some call hot lapping the car)? I'm guessing maybe twice and then you have to let the unit sit to cool down. There is no free energy....tons of heat is generated when fast charging the batteries and tons of heat is generated when putting the power out in Ludicrous mode or whatever they call it. If this Tesla roadster really can run a 1/4 mile in the 8's then the equivalent heat produced would be the same as a petrol drag car.....it takes the same amount of energy for a 3500 lb car to go down the track at 8 seconds whether it is petrol or all electric.

Electric cars are the perfect commuter, especially for short runs with stop and go driving so regenerative braking can be implemented to help with efficiency. But as soon as the all electric car hits the highway for non stop cruising, a modern 3 or 4 cylinder turbo diesel will get better mileage (or should I say cost per mile will be lower).

Gasoline and diesel is still the most efficient, cost effect and lowest emission vehicles on the road when doing hiway and long commutes. Todays modern cars have emissions so good that they literally put out nothing but heat and water vapor once they are up to operating temps.

Battery technology isn't going to matter since we won't be able to upgrade our power grid and increase power plants fast enough to meet even a 25% electric car fleet in our lifetime. The only way to make enough electricity is going to be nuclear, coal or diesel power plants. Hydro would be nice, but I don't think we have enough water to make up the difference. Wind power and solar will never be able to make enough power to feed our society and the way we live. This really is all marketing and social masturbation and there is a LOT of money to be made by a very few when you have govt subsidies and grants paying for your pet projects....not to mention the larger government bureaucracy that these types of programs create which means more taxes for us.

For $250k you could buy a very fast car like a Corvette ZR1, have $50k left over for fuel and donate the rest to ecological clean up, habitat rehabilitation, lobbying for cleaner emissions out of China, etc.....now that would really make a difference in the world. If you think you're saving the worlds ecology by buying a $250k Tesla, you couldn't be more wrong.