New Tesla Motors Store at Bellevue Square Mall, Bellevue, WA

Last year about this same time president Obama laid out a goal for the US to have one million electric vehicles on the road by 2015.  While forecasters and analysts project we will fall just short of that goal, the Tesla Motor Company is doing all they can to help us pass up the pump and juice up at home with one of their impressive electric cars.

In November 2011 the Tesla Motor Company opened up one of their latest retail stores at Bellevue Square Mall near my home in Seattle.  One of only 16 locations in the USA and 21 worldwide, the store showcases their existing Tesla Roadster and their-soon-to-be Model S.

The Tesla Model S.  Image courtesy of Tesla Motors.

A Tesla retail location.  Image courtesy of Tesla Motors.

The minimalist store design features side walls exhibiting car-shaped color chips and samples of trim and fabrics, while the back wall features a plasma monitor and a few other goodies that help you visualize what your designed-to-order Tesla could look like.

In addition to a full-sized and presumably working model of the Tesla Roadster in the center of the retail space, the real highlights of the store are the various technical bits of the car showcased like prized museum pieces.


The Bellevue location features the underbelly of the Tesla-S, which is a sleek flat plane containing all the batteries for the vehicle.  While looking a bit like a wide, gray skateboard, it convincingly illustrates that the upcoming S will have plenty of room inside.  Another interesting highlight is an example of an actual Tesla electric motor.   Appearing like a cross between a torpedo and a silver coffee maker, seeing and touching this powerhouse really lets you experience something different about these extraordinary cars.

Tesla:  Bellevue Square Mall, Bellevue, WA.