There’s a lot to be said about the electric car. It doesn’t go far, it doesn’t go fast, but it’s cool because it doesn’t run on gasoline and it goes just a bit faster than your grandmother’s electric wheelchair. But Tesla Motors, pioneers in the field of electric vehicles, have created a wealth of innovative new concept and actual vehicles that can, theoretically, replace gasoline for good. The first electric vehicle they built, an electric roadster called the Tesla Roadster, sells for about $125,000 and can go upwards of 300 miles on one single eight-hour charge. They’re also building a 4-door sedan, which would compete with BMW and Volvo’s luxury sedan lines, which could go about 400 miles on an eight-hour charge, and cost only $60,000.

But those dreams might not be a reality. The company is facing huge financial cuts across the board, and some are thinking that they might close their doors by 2010. Not helping matters is California’s support of hydrogen fuel cells, another major contender for the coveted #1 alternative energy spot. Tesla is headquartered in the Golden State, and is working hard on bringing its products to a wider consumer base in the US, including plans for six new service centers in Washington, Oregon, California, and others.

Keep an eye on this company, because if they don’t fall hard, they won’t fall at all. Tesla is poised to be the next big thing to hit America, and if we can get off our duffs and really start caring about not only the planet but about how we, as human beings, choose to live our lives, then that Tesla Roadster (and their sedan model) will be the cornerstone to a new way of life. That may be a bit over-dramatic, but still, we all can dream, can’t we?