Electric car's roadtrip stops in Villisca for charge

Roadtrips across the United State have been a part of American culture since the dawn of the automobile.

In the first roadtrip of its kind, Renew America Roadtrip (R.A.R.) made a pit-stop in Villisca, Wednesday, to charge their batteries and promote the use of alternative energy.

R.A.R. is raising money for numerous green charities as they drive across the U.S. in a fully electric sports car, the 2009 Telsa Roadster, to help raise awareness of renewable, sustainable and eco-friendsly (RSE) initiatives.

“We contacted them to bring awareness to the Midwest and southwest Iowa about new types of energy,” Villisca Municipal Power Plant’s Floyd Taber explained. “We think it’s a good way for people to get out there and see what is out there.”

The makers of the Roadster, Telsa Motor Inc., is the only fully electric automaker that is making highway ready vehicles in North America.

They have two models, the Model S and the Roadster.

The Model S, rolls off the production line in 2011 and will be the first fully electric sedan with a range of 300 miles per charge.

“By driving across the United States in an unmodified production electric vehicle, the R.A.R. team will in a very tangible, visible and undeniable way address the myths and propaganda that have been used to ‘kill the electric car’ in the past.” R.A.R. co-founder Michael L. Cramer stated in a letter.

R.A.R.’s trip started in New York, July 13, and will continue making stops at many scenic ‘road trip’ hot-spots like the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Hollywood, and end their trip in San Francisco on July 31.

Iowa is already working toward using new sources of energy producing 10 percent of the nation’s wind power capacity.

“We’re going to keep looking at many renewables,” Taber said about the future of Villisca Municipal Power Plant’s energy usages. “We’re going to continue to aggressively seek, through our SIMECA membership, (Southern Iowa Municipal Electric Cooperative Association) which helps reduce the cost for all of our customers.”

Reservations to purchase Telsa vehicles can be made online.

Price range of the fully electric vehicles starts at $41,000 for the sedan and $101,000 for the roadsters.