Fully-electric cars will trickle down to the middle class – be patient – but buyers with big checks can get theirs now, in what is the ultimate expression of speed and environmental smugness.

Sure, the Tesla Roadster shoves a 990-pound battery in the trunk, stuffs two passengers shoulder-to-shoulder, and may leave its owner stranded if he doesn’t rush home to recharge. Practicality and price aside, this is no science project. With a single gear and full power the moment you mash the accelerator, the Tesla is a rollercoaster for the road, going from dead silent to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds without a whiff of fumes.

There’s roughly 20 of them in the New England region – and more than 700 worldwide – but the Roadster’s technology is proof that electric cars can be engaging, and not just golf carts for the neighbors.