Renault electric car pulls into Halo charging location in London during 2012 Olympics.

Coda being crash tested. It received two stars out of five by the NHTSA.

BMW electric car prototypes starting with the 1602 model at the back of the lineup.

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14-Nov-2012

PHOTO CAPTION: Tesla Mode S is winner of Car of the Year award

Motor Trend Breaks Car of the Year Tradition

Motor Trend's selection of Tesla Model S as Car of the Year is the first time an electric car has won the honor.

Since America’s love affair with cars really got rolling after World War II, nothing but a gasoline-burning internal combustion engine would do. Until now.

The gearheads at Motor Trend have named the Tesla Model S the car of the year for 2013—the first time an all-electric vehicle has ever won the honor. “The turning point will be when electric cars become the best product, and that’s the key for mass adoption,” argued Tesla founder Elon Musk at an event to announce the award November 12. The Model S “is just the best car.”

That’s quite an achievement given that Tesla had to learn how to make a car from scratch, starting as a company in 2003 and then, in 2008, offering its first all-electric sports car known as the Roadster. The Model S is the current bid for more affordability, with a price of at least $49,900 (after a federal tax credit, which Musk, for one, would like to see extended). “It’s difficult to create a car company of any kind,” Musk mused. “An electric car adds additional difficulty and the economy didn’t make it any easier.” In fact, in 2008, Tesla nearly ran out of money until Musk stepped in with his personal fortune.

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