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Palo Alto, California-based Tesla Motors has announced delivery of over 1500 of its Roadsters worldwide (as of January 10, 2011) and view this as a major milestone marker in the automaker’s presence in over 30 countries. Tesla’s goal is to produce a full range of electric cars, from premium sports cars to mass market vehicles and contribute in driving down the cost of electric vehicles. It is currently the only automaker in the U.S. that builds and sells highway-capable EVs in serial production. Founded in 2003 by a group of Silicon Valley engineers who set out to “prove that electric vehicles could be awesome,” the Tesla Roadster hit the streets in early 2008 as a “car with no equal,” and two years later over 1000 Roadsters were out performing their emissions-free performance in more than 25 countries. Now, a year later, that number continues to climb. The company’s website affirms that (more…)

Neil Young’s electric car started a fire at his warehouse in early November and it has sparked a fervor of interest in his pet project to restore a 1959 Lincoln Continental into a symbol of his mission to “repower the American dream.” Sadly, the fire was started due to “operator error” according to Young and it also destroyed approximately 850,000 worth of guitar and other music memorabilia owned by the musician; but according to an associated website he states that his project will live on with its goal “to demonstrate alternative energies for transportation that are clean.” His LincVolt car will be rebuilt under the guiding mission to “build a zero emissions automobile that eliminates roadside re-fueling entirely, a safe powerful automobile that is comfortable and economic on both long trips and the commute to work, an automobile that can generate power to the home when it is parked, potentially creating an income stream for the owner.”

With the increasing popularity of alternative fuels, it might be a prudent time to take a look at three types of vehicles that utilize alternate resources for power.HYBRID VEHICLES (HEVS) are designed to combine the best of the gasoline engine and electric motors. Additionally, they can be configured in a number of ways to attain different objectives whether it be improved fuel economy or increased power.DIESEL VEHICLES are making a comeback since they are more powerful and fuel efficient than their earlier relatives (an average of 35 more fuel efficient). Improved fuel injection technology lends to increased power and efficiency as well as improved acceleration. Plus, engines using biodiesel must meet the same emissions standards as their gasoline counterparts.FLEX-FUEL VEHICLES (FFVS) are designed to run on a blend of gasoline and up to 85 ethanol (E85), and except for a few fuel system modifications they are identical to their gasoline counterparts. FFVs have been in production since the 1980′s and there are a wide range of models available. Chances are you pass several every day without even knowing it since they look exactly like their gasoline-only counterparts.