With the all-electric Roadster headed for the assembly line, Tesla Motors is looking ahead to its four-door sedan, the WhiteStar, and says it will be available with a hybrid drivetrain.
Tesla is looking at offering the WhiteStar in two versions - all electric and series hybrid. Series hybrids, also known as "range extended vehicles," have a small gasoline engine that recharges a battery pack. Although the battery pack in a typical REV offers a range of 40 to 50 miles - compared to a claimed 200 miles for the Tesla Roadster - it can be recharged on the fly and so offers greater overall range than a full-electric vehicle.
Tesla Motors tells CNET an REV will appeal to customers who otherwise would avoid electric vehicles amid concerns about their range. Company CEO Elon Musk says the gas-electric version of the WhiteStar will cost a little less than the full-electric but the difference would be negligible.
The company hopes to have the WhiteStar on the road in 2009 with a price between $50,000 and $70,000, depending upon the drivetrain and other options. Given the delays Tesla's encountered trying to get the Roadster on the road, we aren't holding our breath. Still, if Tesla meets that timeline, it will beat General Motors and the Chevrolet Volt to the REV punch by a full year and steal some thunder from Toyota as it unveils the plug-in Prius.
