Byrne takes delight in speedy Tesla car

Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne punches the accelerator of his new twin-seat Tesla roadster and it's like, zero-to-WOW!

The whipping sensation of being pulled back into the low-riding cockpit-style seat feels like one of the G-force rides at Lagoon. That's not so surprising considering the all-electric sports car just pulled something on the order of .7Gs while topping 60 mph in under four seconds on a makeshift drag strip behind Overstock.com's Salt Lake City warehouse.

As namesakes go, turn of the century genius inventor Nikola Tesla couldn't do better. The car, based on a Lotus, is to go Lady Gaga over. Sleek, with a curvaceous body of light, super-strong carbon fiber helping offset the weight of the lithium-ion batteries powering it.

Byrne punches it again, this time demonstrating the car's handling through corners and oversized brakes. When driving, his countenance is an interesting combination of intensity and glee.

"I'm most impressed with the acceleration and the handling. It's nicely designed and balanced for cornering," Byrne said, providing a thumbnail critique of his driving experiences so far. "(Tesla) has really created a high-performance sports car."

He then jokes that he can personally attest the car is equipped with an internal governor that kicks in when speeds of 125 mph are reached.

Byrne's car is thought to be the first Tesla delivered in Utah. The California-based manufacturer, which sells direct to the buyer, recently produced its 700th vehicle for worldwide delivery. Tesla is also in the process of opening a small exclusive dealership network worldwide.

Tesla Roadsters don't come cheap. They're currently priced at $101,500, but options, including the high performance quick-charger that allows the car to be recharged in about three hours, can boost the price significantly. The flip side is that the car earns generous tax credits in many states.

Factory specs show the Tesla comes with a plug-in 288 horsepower electric motor and has nearly a 250-mile cruising range on a single charge.

Byrne said he doesn't usually indulge himself this way, but rationalizes his purchase is furthering alternative fuel technology. Early Tesla buyers not scared off by the hefty price tag, including Hollywood celebrities George Clooney, Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio, are critical, Byrne said, for these new technologies to evolve and eventually find their way into mainstream production. "The internal combustion engine is more than a century old. This, or hydrogen, is the future."

But his Tesla ownership hasn't been without a few problems and quirks.

Much of the car is computer controlled and developed a problem requiring a tech from Seattle to be dispatched to Utah to fix the computer glitch.

The car is also too small for someone as large as the 6-foot-4 Byrne, who must drive with the top off in order to have sufficient room. Even then, it's somewhat cramped and a challenge to get in and out of due to how low it sits to the ground.

Because one of the main focuses is battery capacity, storage space is also at a premium. "When they talk about a glove box, that's about all it'll hold, a pair of gloves." Byrne quips.

e-mail: chuck@desnews.com