Get an Up Close Look at Tesla Electric Car

What would you think of driving a luxury car and never having to do to a gas station again?

What would you think of refueling at home with the help of a plug?

That is not science fiction but the reality of Highland Park’s newest business, a Tesla Motors combination showroom, service center and supercharging center, the first of its kind in the world, offering a luxury all electric car.

The Tesla Model S, the only one currently available to the public, starts at $62,400 and increases with amenities including a battery providing more miles on the road. The battery of this 4,600-pound vehicle weighs 1,200 pounds and is under the floor board, according to spokesperson Alexi Georgeson.

Patch went to check out the Tesla Model S, took it for a test drive and had a few questions that might occur to a prospective buyer such as whether the battery eventually wear out like it can on a computer or cell phone. “Those batteries suffer from memory loss,” Georgeson said indicating it will not happen with the car.

The car has a range of 208 and 265 miles between charges depending on the size of the battery. The longer range costs an additional $10,000. It can be charged overnight by plugging it into a 240-volt socket in a garage taking four to eight hours, according to Georgeson.

For those putting more miles on per day or taking a road trip, Tesla offers supercharging stations free to vehicle owners. That takes 20 minutes and the company is expanding its network expecting to make it easy to get anywhere in the country in the near future, according to Georgeson.

The Tesla also has power, going from zero to 60 in 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 130 miles per hour. Patch did not try that on the test drive but took Georgeson’s word for it. There is also a lot of customization when ordering the vehicle. There are no floor models for sale and the delivery time is between three and nine weeks.

Georgeson also said Tesla plans on a $30,000 model in the future.

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