Wealthy visitors to London can now salve their environmental consciences by snapping up a Tesla Roadster from the firm's Knightsbridge outlet. Just a short walk - or ride in your chauffeur-driven Phantom - from Harrods, the new showroom is currently selling just the Roadster models - in Signature Edition and Roadster Sport guises. A right-hand drive entry-level version is also expected to join the line-up, as is the Model S - Tesla 'taking reservations' for the electrically powered saloon.

Some 1,300 orders for the £94,000 roadster have been taken across Europe, Tesla planning on opening regional sales and service centres in Monaco, Munich and Zurich - the electric car firm wisely locating its showrooms near money.

"Thanks to an abundance of discriminating drivers and progressive public policy, Tesla is already well known in Europe," said Tesla CEO and Product Architect Elon Musk. "We expect the London store to dramatically increase our brand identity throughout the continent, and with right hand drive models now due at the beginning of next year, the UK market will provide a solid foundation on which to build this."

Capable of travelling about 200 miles on a single charge the Tesla Roadster is remarkable among its plug-in rivals for offering a proper driving experience. It still suffers the same long charging times that hinders widespread adoption of electric power, but for those wanting a capable, enjoyable commuter that's congestion charge free then the Roadster is well worth looking at. So long as you can afford it.

Kyle Fortune - 30 Jun 2009