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When you take into account the efficiency of producing the electricity it uses, the Tesla Roadster is more than twice as efficient as the best hybrid car on the road.

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Q: Does the Tesla Roadster's stereo have a mini jack so I can plug in my iPod?
A: Even better! The Tesla Roadster allows you to connect your iPod to the stereo using Apple's dock connector which not only charges your iPod but also gives you basic control of your iPod using the controls on the stereo. This way the iPod can sit safely in the tray under the center console while you play, pause, skip, fast-forward or reverse using your stereo controls.

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Hmm. What are the recycling opportunities for lithium ion batteries?

I believe the FAQ section on the Tesla website mentions that the initial cost of the car means they already billed you for the recycling of the initial set of batteries. They mention that you can be in and out in a few hours with a total battery replacement. It's somewhat unclear if that first replacement is "already paid for" or not. But at least the recycling/disposal cost is covered.

Also of note: If you pick the "solar" option, you don't get solar panels on the car to recharge it, but instead some solar plant somewhere drops an amount of energy into the grid equal to the amount you suck out on every recharge.
I guess if it helps you sleep better at night....

In any case, this seems to be an awesome achievement, proving that electric cars don't have to be slow, ugly, and ultra-short-range.
They can in fact be pretty enough to show up on a poster above a young boy's bed, fast enough to occupy his daydreams, and almost practical.

Now, they just need to knock the price down by a factor of four, finally whip the toxic recycling issues, and completely put to rest any safety concerns that so much concentrated battery weight, energy, and chemicals cause.
(And I think they will eventually lick these issues. And the "dot-com millionaire market" is the right place to start with this product. Note also, that they are limiting distribution to only 3 states unless you pay an extra $10,000.)

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I can't imagine if there were tens of thousands of cars plugged in. Are hydrogen fuel cell cars the answer? Or does production of hydrogen produce pollution as well?

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why do we need to make a fleet of vehicles that demands more of it

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At work at the moment, so can't do a full search, but use your google-fu and check out the Barabus TKR...unveiled at the motor show this week. A 270 mph (yes 270 Miles Per Hour) nutter car! Okay, so it costs £300,000, but that is less than a third of the price of a Bugatti Veyron!

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(This also raises the question: is there such a thing as too much horsepower in a daily driver?)