when folks think of fast electric cars, tesla is the first to come to mind.

new competition aims to change the game.

the li-ion motors wave was a winner in the automotive x-prize two-seater class. but the wave is a commuter car.

the li-ion inizio is something completely different … crazy fast and built in america. it’s from mooresville, nc, not silicon valley. the inizio is a full-size supercar, designed to accommodate seven-foot basketball players.

the inizio is fitted with an uqm electric motor and five-speed gearbox. with upgrades, the car is designed to go from 0-60 mph in just 3.4 seconds, with a top speed of over 150 mph and a 200 mile range.

the tesla, by comparison, tops out at a paltry 125 mph or so.

http://mpgomatic.com got the lowdown on the li-ion motors inizio electric supercar from inizio product development and program engineer ron cerven at the 2010 sema show in las vegas, nevada. (the inizio is appearing this week at the la auto show.)