This is to both of you really.

Using 100% of power from your house plugs:

1. Is dramatically more efficient than an combustion engine in terms of distance/fuel. i.e. its pennies on the dollar per mile.
2. It creates far less toxins in our environment. Especially when those companies install the emmision cap equipment to their plants.
3. Your cost for fuel to operate your vehicle is dramatically reduced.

Some differences from fully electric to combustion engines

1. combustion engines have routine maintenance every couple of months where fluids and parts have to be changed. Electric vehicles have on minor inspection a year that would generally require no replaced parts and their are no fluids at all. This saves you a lot of money every year and if looked at for the life of the car would equal thousands in savings.
2. Electric engines are quieter and cleaner. They also have a higher torque, so once large trucks can be replaced you will have small Ford Rangers towing more than current Ford F250's.

@JACKSON50 - No, the Volt is nice but still just a wolf in sheeps clothing. Companies like Tesla are changing that already and by 2010 Tesla and a handfull of other fully electric car companies will have many true replacements for todays cars that will look good, be fully functional, replacements for every class of car.

If you all need more info try http://www.teslamotors.com/efficiency/how_it_works.php and read the wheel-to-wheel section as well as the environmental benefits sections. On top of that hit their FAQ page. All of the data I provided is backed up here with prime sources and actual mathematical proofs.

Again, fully electric FTW!

I agree the Tesla is a fantastic car, apart from the ridiculous price, however, you mention cheaper servicing, I'm guessing the battery won't last for ever, and given the size of the thing, it probably cost more than an entire engine to replace. Plus, electric/hybrid cars take a lot more Co2 to make (if you're worried about that), in fact, it's better for us in the UK, to have a Land Rover, as the emissions getting the car to the customer are a lot less! As the Pruis, for example, as the battery from one place, and engine from another etc, all these parts are shipped to Toyota, where they assemble them, then transport them to the UK. With a Land Rover, most parts are made on the UK, and little transport is needed to get it so somewhere in the UK.

1. Tesla Roadster price: Its about right for a high end roadster. It can out perform most other sports cars in the same price range. Plus, even though it is not at full production levels yet, it still has a very large waiting list. So, I think most people with that kind of money disagree with you.

2. Batteries: These batteries are designed to have over 70% of its full capacity after 5 years, which is still quite a lot. Plus, once you figure in mass production and that you *might* have to replace it once during the time you own the vehicle (outside of the 5 yr warranty) I wouldn't expect it to be anywhere near the savings you receive due to lower everything else I mentioned in my post above.

 I agree that business wise this makes the most sense. Realistically the people who made this decision have never worked for Ford, and those idiots piss me off. I just don't agree that the other car is a good substitute. American consumers should be smart enough to make the right decision and force Ford to bring the better car here. I get amazingly depressed when I think like that though because I realize the average consumer will never get smart enough to make the right choice even in a situation this simple.