Tesla delivers its 300-mile range electric sedans today

The electric-car movement gets a huge boost today as Tesla Motors officials delivers its first batch of new Model S sedan, its first product since its breakthrough roadster and yet another vehicle that could rock the alt-power car world.

The Model S luxury sedan could make an impact because its premium version offers far greater range than in the past: up to 300 miles. Today's electric cars are usually limited to about 100 miles of range. But it won't come cheap. The cheapest Model S will start at $57,400, before a possible $7,500 in federal tax breaks, and run past $100,000 for the longest-range and most lavish versions.

Still, the company based Fremont, Calif., says it has more than 10,000 customers lined up to buy one. It operates from the huge former Toyota and General Motors joint venture factory that once turned out Toyota Corollas and Geo Prizms. Drive On will be at the ceremonies and we'll bring you details later.

Tesla is headed by Elon Musk, the entrepreneur who co-founded PayPal and who also runs SpaceX, the aerospace start-up that recently became the first private company to send a supply ship to the International Space Station in orbit.

The company already produced a two-seat roadster, cosing more than $100,000, that became of the first modern electric production car. At the heart of the powertrain were bricks of thousands of laptop batteries, all computer-controlled.