Tesla Roadster completes around-the-world trip

tesla-world-tour1A Tesla Roadster traveling around the world concluded its epic voyage last night in Paris where Tesla will open a new showroom today (Sept. 30).

Sponsored by electric carmaker Tesla Motors and TAG Heuer to commemorate the Swiss watchmaker’s 150th anniversary, the Odyssey of Pioneers tour has traveled through hundreds of towns and 16 major cities worldwide ā€“ and it has sought to plug its star Roadster directly into renewable energy as often as possible.

The TAG Heuer Tesla Roadster has recharged a number of times with purely renewable energy — for instance, at a solar-powered Hilton Hotel in Switzerland, and at a Roadster owner’s solar energy company in Italy. The Roadster is the only sports car that can be fully or partially charged with renewable energy, including solar, wind, hydroelectric and geothermal energy.

The TAG Heuer Tesla Roadster has made history all along the route and has been the subject of an online documentary series.

Parking in Red Square
It was the first car without Russian components to receive official clearance to park in Moscow’s Red Square. Red Square is Russia’s former royal citadel and the president’s residence — the heart of Moscow and Russia itself. It was greeted by cheering crowds in Budapest, where Nikola Tesla came up with the design for his revolutionary alternating-current induction motor in 1882. The Tesla Roadster — the world’s only electric sports car — uses an AC induction motor descended from the prodigal scientist’s original vision.

tesla-world-tour-japanThe Roadster was hosted in India by Bollywood phenomenon Shah Rukh Khan and in Jaipur by His Royal Highness Sawai Bhawani Singh Bahadur, the last maharaja of Jaipur — considered Rajasthan’s most significant political, cultural and religious figure. It traveled to the Great Wall of China. During a stop at one section of the 8,852-kilometer landmark, respected Chinese actor and “Hero” star Chen Dao Ming took a spin.

Additional stops included Milan, Tokyo, Los Angeles, New York and London, where it led Prince Charles’ Garden Party to promote environmental awareness and was driven by legendary British racing driver Sir Stirling Moss. His Royal Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco drove it during one of the first legs of the trip.

A six-month journey
Tesla technician Luke McClure has driven the car throughout the six-month journey. Co-pilot and award-winning cameraman Vivien Floris chronicled the adventure online.

McClure, 26, grew up in Norwich, UK — not far from the town of Hethel, where the Tesla Roadster is manufactured.

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“After making history and meeting incredible people on three continents, it’s going to be an interesting transition back to my day job,” McClure joked. “I may have spent more quality time in the Roadster than anyone else — and it will come in handy for Roadster owners who also do extreme driving and road rallies.”

“This trip was about showing people the boundaries of an electric car’s performance, durability and efficiency,” said Tesla CEO, Chairman and Co-Founder Elon Musck. “This tour demonstrates that the Roadster can go the distance — whether you are commuting to work or embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.”

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