I agree that in many ways the Tesla is a "technology experiment" to show that an electric car can offer "real performance".
The range is good, so unless you were planning on taking it on a long trip, you like could keep it "topped up" enough every evening to not really worry about the range limit.
But JC did have some points - it's very heavy, even though it uses very advanced battery technology (if this thing had 200 miles worth of lead acid batteries, the weight would likely be closer to one ton then half a ton). That weight affects handling, braking, and range performance (having to haul around a half-ton worth of battery weight has to have an impact as well as requiring more power-hungry parts to overcome it).
I also agree with JM that fuel-cells likely are the future of cars. The technology is tried, true and safe: it's been used in aerospace for decades and that environment is a harsh one. The key will be to mass-produce it to the point the cost becomes "reasonable". And then we need to create the hydrogen distribution infrastructure to allow people to fill-up at any street corner like they do now.
That will likely take a decade or more, easy, but it really is just a question of money, not technology. Full electrics are an issue of technology - battery technology and charging technology - both at the car and at the outlet (what generates the electricity the car uses?).
And as JM noted, a fuel-cell car works like a fuel tank car - you just drive up, fill it up in a few minutes, and you're off again.
