Electric Sports Car Sparks Plenty of Interest in Townsville

FROM zero to 100km/h in four seconds – the fast, furious but energy-efficient Tesla Roadster electric sports car sped into Townsville last week.

The world’s only electric sports car was in Townsville as part of the Oz Goes Electric Tour, a Victorian government-backed initiative aimed at raising public awareness about electric vehicles. The tour, which began in Melbourne on March 16, will cover 3000km, visiting the three eastern states on the mainland.

The Roadster attracted plenty of attention on The Strand yesterday, with Tesla Motors’ national sales manager Jay McCormack saying the milestone event was a great way to reach as many people as possible. The car broke the distance record for travelling on a single charge when it was driven 501km from Alice Springs in March 2009.

“It’s the first time an electric vehicle has travelled a significant distance in Australia, charging along the way,” he said.

The tour was launched on March 16 and sponsored by the Victorian Government.

Powered by an energy-dense battery, the electric sports car consumes no fuel and travels an average of 360km per single charge. It plugs into just about any electrical outlet, and has been charged throughout Australia while on tour.

“This road trip is a milestone. It’s the first time an electric vehicle has travelled a significant distance in Australia, charging along the way,” Australian Tesla representative Jay McCormack said.

The Roadster is the only sports car in the world that can be fully charged with renewable sources of energy.

Throughout the Oz Goes Electric tour, the electric sports car will be charged using solar, wind, hydro and biomass energies.

by Australian Solar Quotes

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I took an interest in the Australian energy sector close to ten years ago and since then have monitored the trends, technologies and direction of the Australian Energy Market. I was drawn to the Australian solar market in 2008 and since then have worked heavily in the field. I am partnered with national and international solar energy companies, from manufacturers of solar panel and inverter technology, online software developers that introduce tools to quote, monitor and manage solar power systems and media organisations who like myself, closely monitor the solar and renewable energy sector.