By Alison McFerrin

The Selma Times-Journal

It’ll go zero to 60 in 3.7 seconds and runs on a battery that weighs half a ton. This isn’t a futuristic space vessel — it’s an electric powered sports car, and it’s coming to Selma.

“It’s a phenomenal machine,” said Mike Reynolds with Broad South Communications. “It’s a sports car that looks like a Jaguar, Ferrari, some kind of European sports car.”

The TESLA has a top speed of 125 miles per hour, and it can run for 245 miles before it needs to be recharged.

It is coming to the Selma-Dallas County Chamber of Commerce June 21 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“This is looking into the future,” chamber executive director Sheryl Smedley said. “We’re excited that it’s coming to our area to visit us.”

Reynolds said it was through his discussions with Alabama Power’s Jan Ellis that the decision was made to bring TESLA to Selma.

“We’re doing this as a community service,” Reynolds said. “I just think it’s an educational tool, especially for the folks that get a chance to drive it.”

Some local officials will be given a chance to drive the car, as well as 10 contest winners who called in to the WDXX and WHBB radio stations.

Robert White, with Alabama Power, said he hopes Selmians will learn that electric cars are clean, comfortable and affordable.

“This car is owned by Alabama Power Company, purchased over a year ago in order to promote electric transportation for events such as these,” White said. “The car is coming from Birmingham.”

Electric cars very well may be the future. Instead of filling up at the gas station, electric car owners will simply plug the car into a wall outlet at home and let it charge overnight.

The TESLA takes only three and a half hours to return to full charge, and White said charge time will add about $5 to your electricity bill.

Of course, a fancy sports car is not your only option if you’re interested in the vehicle of the future.

“There are 47 different makes and models to meet all customers needs,” White said.