Aucklander Steve West's newest is the flashest of his three electric vehicles.
''I just like them that much.''
The software design company owner stopped at Otago Polytechnic's workSpace, yesterday to recharge the battery in his $188,000 Tesla Model S and take people for rides.
Mr West was on his way back to Auckland, after driving the 2-month-old car from Cape Reinga to Bluff.
He said the drive was to show people it could be done, with some organisational skills applied, and to promote the introduction of public charging stations.
While his Model S had almost ''all the bells and whistles'', it would still cost about $102,000 to import the standard Model S, though there were cheaper electric cars - his Nissan Leaf, for example, cost about $40,000. He also owns the only Tesla Roadster in the country.
He was travelling the country with another Tesla Model S owner, Carl Barlev of Auckland, talking to the public, local councils and businesses about the benefits of electric vehicles and how to go about setting up infrastructure for them.
''We just want to dispel any myths about electric cars and want to people to be able to experience what they are like. It's about energy independence really.
''I'd rather be spending my money on New Zealand-made renewable electricity, than a foreign-owned fuel company.''
