Californians: Buy a 2010 Tesla Roadster, Get $12,500 Off!

By John Voelcker

4,373 views Mar 15, 2010

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Bruce Richter drives the 2010 Tesla Roadster Sport

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The nice thing about buying advanced-technology cars is that many of them, at one point or another, come with financial incentives meant to encourage fuel efficiency.

Even if the car in question is a 2010 Tesla Roadster, the $109,000 two-seat all-electric convertible that blasts from 0 to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds on the power of 6,831 little lithium-ion batteries--and uses no gasoline whatsoever.

Bruce Richter drives the 2010 Tesla Roadster Sport

Enlarge Photo

2010 Tesla Roadster Sport

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Starting today, the not-yet-quite-bankrupt State of California is offering $5,000 rebates to residents who buy or lease a Tesla Roadster. The cash comes from its new Clean Vehicle Rebate Project.

Like last year's $42,000 Colorado state tax credit for buyers of 2009 Roadsters, this one has a time limit too. Funds are limited, as they say, and the credits are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

More than that, Tesla Roadster buyers are also eligible for the maximum $7,500 credit on their Federal income taxes, assuming they have sufficient income against which to apply that credit. (If they're buying a two-seater for more than $100K, we assume they do ....)

And the action's not limited to the U.S. Other countries and regions offer incentives too.

Starting next January, a new U.K. allowance will give 25 percent of the purchase price--up to a maximum of £5,000 (roughly$7,500)--off the cost of an all-electric car. A purchase-price reduction is considered a much better incentive than a tax credit, but it's not likely here.

We still pine for that $42,000 Colorado credit, though. This year's credit in the state maxes out at $6K, and it just doesn't seem the same. Sigh.

[Tesla Motors]