I truly hope I’m not the only nerd out there, and when they heard the word Tesla started thinking of the infamous Tesla coil. What a great invention that never was. During the electric invention race between Tesla and Edison, there were marvels that rival even today’s imagination all devised by one man. Nikola Tesla was a visionary and a genius. Unfortunately, he what he lacked was people skills and the ability to campaign for his work.

After inventing our common everyday items, like the incandescent light bulb and the electric internal combustion engine, Tesla’s imagination set its sights much higher. A Tesla coil was to be a military applicant for defense of a fixed position. A highly concentrated electric discharge focused in a direction to repel oncoming advance and attack. A phenomenal idea, unfortunately is reserved only for an upgrade in computer games. Think of what was, and what was never allowed to be. The world followed Edison’s path because he was better at selling it. If you ever watch a History channel special you soon learn that it was a mistake and has cost us precious time.

Thankfully for us, the American beautiful people, there are still those out there pursuing Tesla’s vision of a world run in every manner on electricity. The Tesla Motors group of California has been working for six years on producing a truly electric car. If anyone out there remembers a company called Ballard Power, you’ll remember that they were working on the same thing. Where are they now? They are buried under the miles of red tape GM put on them after buying them to delay their product from hitting the market. Now Toyota has bought a stake in Tesla Motors for possibly the same reason.

The Toyota Prius is the top selling hybrid car in the world right now. When you’re the best you don’t want to hear about that rookie that’s going to take your seat when the music stops. If you’ve been trying to find your own 2010 Prius,Champaign is a great place to start. Everywhere on the roads and lines of newbie’s on the lots. Maybe you want to really help the environment and recycle. If you’re looking for a preowned Prius, Champaign is still your best start to that treasure hunt. It shocks me how many people trade up from last year’s enclosed golf cart to next year’s. Either way, not sure I know a soul who would scoff at 75 miles to the gallon.