[The Vector] Electric Vehicle News: Tesla Wins Monte Carlo…Again

Tesla with driver Erik Comas, courtesy The Telegraph

It’s a triumph for Tesla. The Tesla Roadster beat out more than 100 clean fuel vehicles in the 5^th Monte Carlo Alternative Energy Rally, repeating last year’s victory. Driven by former Formula 1 driver Erik Comas, the white roadster proved than an all-electric car is capable of hard competition and endurance.

It has an EU-certified range of 212 miles (340 km) per charge. In fact, the Tesla doesn’t need any special equipment for charging it… a conventional outlet is all that is needed. 

The Alternative Energy Rally covered more than 800 km over four days, from Annecy in the French Alps and Lugano in Switzerland to the sprints in Monaco. It followed some of the same roads as the historic Monte Carlo Rally. Some of the other cars in the race included the hybrids 2011 Honda CR-Z and the 2011 Toyota Prius, a biofueled Saab 9-3 E85, and the full electric Nissan Leaf.

The number of competitors has grown from 36 in the original Alternative race (2007) to more than 120 this year. “Next year,” said Erik Comas, “I will enter 5 Roadsters owned by my company Green Car Challenge into this amazing event.” Bravo!