According to the AFP, Tesla scrubbed its plan to build a facility in Silicon Valley to build its upcoming electric car called Tesla Model S in favor of a brownfield site. Brownfield sites are essentially already existing factories or plants no longer in use.

The “Model S” car is a five-passenger sedan run by a lithium-ion battery pack that is expected to power the car for about 240 miles (385 kilometers) per charge. The car has an estimated price of 60,000 dollars.

Since its 100-million-dollars venture capital deal could not materialize in this economic condition, Tesla is now competing with other car makers for low-interest loan money the US Department of Energy has available to fund development of “brownfield” sites.

By making this change in its manufacturing facility plan for building the Model S sedans, Tesla can ensure that it does not risk its position in receiving the loan.

Tesla to Go for “Brownfield” Instead for Tesla Model S Sedan is a post from: CleanCarTalk

Over at blog.wired.com, Chuck Squatriglia wrote about the “10 Cool Cars We Want Now.” It’s really a Christmas wish list, so therefore the affordably, or even reality, factor is not important. In fact only a few cars on this list are suitable and affordable to the mass. More importantly, however, gone may be the days when only pure muscle cars make it to a list like this.

Each one of these cool cars has something real cool about them. But from a clean car perspective, it boils down to this. Of the ten on this list, only 3 can be considered traditional “dream” or “exotic” cars (Audi R8 V12 TDI concept, BMW M1 Hommage, Ferrari Millechili). The rest do not have the elitist badge and are really produced with the aim for the eventual mass market.

So this list has some serious clean, hybrid cars on it. I guess this is a new trend where we’ll see more hybrid/plug-in/alternative -fuel cars on the same list as what used to be considered dream, muscle and exotic cars. Time has changed.

Enjoy the photos. Copy courtesy blog.wired.com.

Audi R8 V12 TDI concept – This diesel demon gets 24 mpg and meets the ultra-stringent EU emissions rules coming in 2014. But the best thing about the R8 TDI is it does zero to 60 in 4 seconds, hits 186 mph and produces glorious quantities of tire-shredding, neck-snapping torque when you stomp it. Photo by Audi.

BMW M1 Hommage – BMW marked the 30th anniversary of the legendary M1 with a sexy prototype that masterfully updates Giorgetto Giugiaro’s original design. The Hommage doesn’t actually run (hence the Photoshop job above) and some say it looks like the new Camaro, but at least it doesn’t have a Bangle butt. Photo by BMW.

Citroen C-Metisse concept – Maybe it’s the absinthe, but no one designs cars quite like the French. Take the C-Metisse that appeared at the Paris Auto Show in 2006. It’s a diesel. It’s a hybrid. And it’s got four scissor doors. The only thing that could make it any cooler is hydropneumatic suspension. Photo by Citroen.

Ferrari Millechili – Millechili is Italian for 1,000 kilos, which is what the next pavement-peeler from Maranello will weigh. That’s less than a Mazda Miata, and it shows Ferrari is serious about improving fuel economy by reducing weight. The next-gen Enzo won’t be named Millechili, but with 600 horsepower, it will again mean Ferrari is Italian for awesome. Photo by Ferrari.

Fiat 500 – This beautiful update of the iconic microcar isn’t a concept, but it may as well be because we can’t get it here in America. Too bad, because the 500 is everything you want in a city car — stylish, efficient (how’s 45 mpg sound?) and a blast to drive. We hear it’s even reliable, so Fiat no longer means “Fix it again, Tony.” Photo by Fiat.

Ford Verve Concept – Ford builds some great fuel-sippers that are sold only in Europe, and the company raided its European stable to design the Verve. The sedan arrives in 2010, but we really want the hatchback concept (shown here at the Detroit auto show) because it’s a small car that doesn’t look cute or cheap or both. Besides, the world needs more purple cars. Photo by Ford.

Honda CR-Z concept – Someone has finally designed a sexy, affordable hybrid. Honda says it absolutely, positively will build the sweet gas-electric sports car it’s been showing off for about a year now, but so far it hasn’t said when. No matter — the fact it’s coming is enough to make us finally forgive Honda for killing the CRX. Photo by Honda.

Mini-E – The all-electric runabout that debuted at the L.A. Auto Show is the ultimate city car, and we wish BMW would build more than 500 of them. BMW says the limited run is a field-test for the new technology, but we suspect the company discovered only 500 people can meet the leasing requirements and afford the $850 monthly lease. Photo by Jim Merithew / wired.com

Tesla Motors Model S – Yes, Tesla is laying off employees and cutting expenses and its plans for the Model S aren’t going anywhere without $350 million from Uncle Sam. But that doesn’t make the idea of a $58,000 all-electric sedan any less seductive, even if the company ought to be focusing its attention on ramping up production of the Roadster. Photo by Tesla Motors.

Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid – A growing cottage industry is busy converting Prius hybrids to plug-ins capable of 100 mpg. Heck — three ecogeeks did the job in the L.A. Convention Center parking lot. Yet an automaker synonymous with hybrids says it won’t have a plug-in Prius until 2010 and even then will offer them only to fleets. What gives? Hurry up already! Photo by Toyota.

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End of Year Wish List: 10 Cool Cars We Want Now is a post from: CleanCarTalk