Short circuit in race to be Model T of electric cars

INBOX:INSIDE A laboratory in New York in 1885, a Serbian immigrant named Nikola Tesla worked day and night on electrical generators for electricity pioneer Thomas Edison. But the two men fell out over a patent dispute and Tesla had to get a job digging ditches, though still working on his theories.

Little could he have imagined that more than 100 years later, a new kind of electric sportscar would be named after him. Yet the battle over who will be the "Edison" of the electric car is as alive today as any race between inventors at the turn of the century.

Tesla was most famous for his revolutionary contributions in the field of electricity and magnetism, with his theoretical work forming the basis of modern electrical motors. So it's fitting that when Martin Eberhard needed a name for his prototype electric sportscar in 2003, he chose Tesla.

Tesla Motors is now building a high-performance electric car and has attracted PayPal co-founder Elon Musk as its main backer, as well as Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page. So far it has raised $186 million (€144 million).

Tesla Motors' first production vehicle, the Tesla Roadster, has a range of 356km and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in less than four seconds. Its top speed is 201km/h and it costs just three cent per mile.

The first 100 models sold out in less than three weeks, with 600 reserved and 400 more are on the waiting list. Tesla is also currently working on a saloon, known as the Model S, for 2010. A cheaper third model will be released in 2012 and cost about $30,000.

Electric cars have huge advantages. There is minimal maintenance required as there is no need for oil changes and brake maintenance is minor because the electric motor can slow the car down.

But Tesla's birth has been difficult. In March this year Tesla filed a lawsuit against Fisker Automotive, alleging it had stolen design ideas and confidential information.

Tesla had previously hired Fisker to design its saloon model but decided against the design. An arbitrator ruled that Fisker had done nothing wrong. Fisker plans to produce a $80,000 Fisker "Karma" four-door hybrid saloon car which will come with a solar panel roof that will help charge the battery pack. Fisker says it has orders for 500 cars and expects to produce 15,000 units a year.

And in March 2008, a supplier filed a lawsuit against Tesla claiming that it was never paid. In October there were rumours that it might not be able to deliver cars on which it has already taken deposits, while financial backer Musk has had to pledge his personal fortune to meeting Tesla's commitments if necessary. At present, fewer than 60 cars have been delivered.

Tesla has also had to make a number of layoffs at its UK assembly operation run by Lotus and nearly shelved plans to produce a more affordable "Model S" electric saloon after failing to secure a $100 million investment round.

However, the company managed to raise $65 million and, when it appears, the Model S will compete with the BMW 5 and Jaguar XF.

Back here in Ireland the birth pangs for electric cars should prove less painful. The Revai AEV (automatic electric vehicle) is now being marketed (see www.greenaer.ie). It's a small, nippy runabout with a top speed of 75km/h and range of 80km per charge. In addition, the Government plans a new electric grid system to recharge and replace batteries.

Perhaps it's time to plug in to the huge technological change in motoring.