For someone who is not used to electric motoring, the sound you get on turning the key of the Tesla Roadster is quite daunting. While cars that share similar body shapes and styles typically range from a subtle roar through to a bellowing growl, the Tesla delivers something that is much more frightening – the sound of silence, coupled with the faintest murmur that is reminiscent of the sound of a laptop starting up. Many commentators have suggested that this in itself is part of the problem with the development of green vehicles – that despite the financial and moral benefits that their environmental prowess offers, they will ultimately fall short of being able to deliver a full and raucous driver experience: the type that is delivered in abundance by the current crop of petrol-fuelled high end sports coupes or supercars. And for all of about two and a half seconds I have to admit, I was almost in full agreement. Then however, I put my foot on the Tesla’s accelerator.

The acceleration you experience in the Tesla Roadster ranks it amongst the best that the world’s supercars have to offer; however, given the transmission is a single speed gearbox, what is achieved is effectively a launch control system that just keeps on going. To move off, you simply take your foot off the brake and plant it – gently of course – on the accelerator, which ensures that within just four seconds you are travelling at over 6o mph. And it is a surreal experience at first, because of the very lack of noise from the engine revving to a level and the subsequent gear changes that normally follow. Indeed, the background ambience of an engine ticking over while you are sat at traffic lights is something which you would never have noticed in the past – but now, since it does not exist, there is a strange sense of something being missing. But again the lights turn green, you pull away and all such thoughts instantly dissolve in your mind as you marvel at the result that the Tesla’s technology is capable of delivering.

Such technology is at the very forefront of automotive developments but in essence you have a battery pack, itself the combination of 6,831 lithium-ion batteries that powers a small bucket-sized, single speed electric motor which in turn propels the car. The exterior has been likened to that of an Elise, and there is a passing resemblance and also shared heritages (given 7% of the Tesla Roadster’s parts are produced by Lotus), but the Tesla is something altogether different. The French-built carbon fibre body ensures a longer and more imposing shape while the increased weight – which only pushes it up to a mere 1,200 kg - helps give a more settled and perfected ride, with the front end feeling much more planted. Driving the Tesla is a pleasure thanks to the efficient blend of its firm aluminium chassis, dynamic wishbone suspension and the low and centred concentration of mass. As a result, your focus is trained on hitting the apex of every corner, making every last ounce of grip you have to play with work in your favour and firing the vehicle away from the bend by deploying the accelerator full tilt once again.

Then there is the efficiency. For an electric motor that has an output that tops out at 14,000 rpm, which is available immediately at any time in Tesla’s one and only gear and offers 250 bhp; it operates at 87 per cent efficiency - a level which regular combustion engines can only dream about. Drive the Tesla gently and it will allow a range of 220 miles on a single charge; drive it how a sub-four second 0-60 car should be driven and granted you will get less range, but you’ll still have plenty of life in the Lithium-Ion batteries to last and have a lot more fun. When you need to top up, you can simply plug into your 240V socket at home – although you’ll need to leave it plugged in for close to 16 hours to charge the batteries fully - or you can utilise a separately available fast charge socket – a must for all future owners - that will give you a full charge in as little as four hours.

The Tesla Roadster is a real green alternative to more traditional vehicles that deliver similar performance capabilities. It is the first real culmination of the desire to maintain the driving thrill and experience a high end car can offer while meeting modern day environmental concern to the full, and not having to make sacrifices. At £94,000 it will not suit everyone’s wallet, but neither will similar performing vehicles that are more traditional in terms of engine configuration and style. Above all, Tesla Motors have delivered on the maxim that they promised to achieve – that being to produce the most efficient high performance production sports car on the planet.

To experience the Tesla Roadster for yourself, visit the Tesla display at the 2009 London Motorexpo for more information.