Tesla going far with its smog-free Roadster

"We don't know of anybody better," said Camille Ricketts, communications director for Tesla Motors Inc., about the Roadster's incredible numbers.

Tesla, with EPA officials on hand, shared the startling numbers for the energy-efficient, environmentally friendly Roadster Wednesday at a press ride-and-drive event in Palo Alto, Calif. While the stats on the car are almost an industry secret, they are known to the 1,650 people who have paid $109,000 to buy the 2.5 version of the car.

"Looking at the true cost of gasoline – not just at the pump, but the cost in terms of our national security, our economy and the environment – electric vehicles (like the Roadster) simply make the most sense,” said Diarmuid O’Connell, Tesla VP of corporate development.

“Tesla is committed to putting as many affordable electric vehicles on the road as quickly as possible to end our reliance on foreign sources of oil and reduce the economic shocks that are driven by the volatility of oil prices.”

Tesla used the backdrop of its flashy cars to hail the amazing mpg milestone and to praise the vehicle's smog and greenhouse gas "10" rating. The numbers were documented in a mocked up EPA mileage window sticker format that was introduced by the EPA earlier in the day.

The window sticker for the Roadster is unofficial. It was prepared by Ricketts and not verified by the EPA, EPA spokeswoman Mary Simms said Wednesday night.

"The EPA has not yet released the specifics for how this car would be rated, so I wouldn't be able to confirm that the info ... is accurate," Simms said.

The car goes 124 mpg on the highway and 112 mpg in city driving, or an average of 119 mpgs, on one charge, Ricketts said. Tesla says the Roadster travels 245 miles per eight-hour charge-up.

“Smart energy policy, advanced engineering and technology are working together to move the auto industry forward,” said EPA Regional Administrator Jared Blumenfeld. “The Obama administration delivered the first-ever tailpipe greenhouse gas-emission and fuel-efficiency standards. What we are doing today, with the new labels, is helping the American public make decisions that can reduce the burden on their pocketbooks, and the burden on our environment.”

Tesla was chosen as the backdrop, Simms said, partly because its cars are so environmentally friendly. Stock for Tesla Motors rose 8.46% Wednesday on the Nasdaq exchange as the event was going on in California.

You can reach TorqueNews.com's Hawke Fracassa at [email protected]. Follow Hawke on Twitter @HawkeFracassa.