Tesla Model S

Electric cars are the future, there's no denying it, and whilst the hype about hybrids seems to be quietening down a little, new developments are taking the alternative powered car forward in leaps and bounds. Just check out the Tesla Model S, a car developed by some techy types in California's Silicon Valley. I did, and although I only spent half an hour with it, it's pretty much shaken my world.

Start from the outside, and it's a large, handsome five door hatch with a whiff of Jaguar or possibly Lexus about it. The key fob remote which itself is shaped like a Model S pops the door handles from their flush mountings and you drop into a leather-clad interior that's more sporting than opulent, and it's here you notice the first clue that you're not in a conventional sedan. There, on the centre console, is a vast touch screen, like an over sized iPad. This is mission control, and it tells you everything you need to know about the car. It incorporates the sat nav, the radio, the reversing cameras, you can get on the internet, everything.

Then you start the car. Or rather, you don't. You just push the pedal and listen to the faintest electric motor whine and gravel crunching under the big tyres as you trundle off. Yes, it's eerie, and to someone who enjoys listening to a nice, big internal combustion motor rumbling away, quite unsettling.

Then you get out on the road and punch the throttle. Hell's bells, it's got some go to it! For a big sedan it just rockets out of the traps with all drama and wheelspin electronically subdued it has maximum torque on tap from 1 rpm upwards, so the acceleration is relentless, and licence losing speeds can be maintained without breaking a sweat and in spooky silence. Obviously, being an electric, hooning everywhere at full throttle (or whatever the right pedal is attached to) takes its toll on your battery life, but boy, it's fun!

It's a heavy old thing, but all the weight is low down look in the boot and there's loads of space or the optional third row of seats. Look under the bonnet and … there's another boot, in this case carrying the plug-in power lead. It will take a while to charge from a household supply but there are free Tesla Super Charger points springing up all the time. Problems? For a big car I found the doors a bit small. And as a technophobe I found the big touch screen a bit intimidating (“We fear change ...”) but easy enough to use. And that's it. You want all the toys and as much power and handling as a top flight executive sports saloon can offer, coupled with free tax, no congestion or emissions charges and even a government grant to take the edge off the price? If this is the future, count me in.