In the summer of 2003, Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning founded Tesla Motors in San Carlos, California. In 2006 it was announced the production of the Tesla Roadster. The Roadster, the design of which is based on the Lotus Elise, uses Lithium-Ion batteries rather than the lead-acid batteries which had previously been predominant in small-maker BEVs. The vehicle uses 6831 Li-ion batteries to travel 394 km (245 mi) per charge, an equivalent fuel efficiency of 1.74 L/100 km (135 mpg U.S.), yet accelerates from 0-100 km/h in under 4 seconds on its way to a top speed of 210 km/h (135 mph). Tesla is set to begin deliveries of Roadsters in early 2008. The company announced that production of the Roadster had officially begun on March 17th. The first Tesla was delivered on February 1, 2008.