Tesla Motors is one of the more interesting "emerging alternative energy auto" companies out there. Actually, it has a better story than most. The company's roadster rivals a Ferrari and is sold out for its current production runs in 2008. The company also plans to introduce a four-door sport sedan in 2009 or 2010.

Tesla just got extra funding as well. It completed a $40 million round of bridge financing from Valor Equity Partners and Elon Musk, its chairman. The company had already raised funding in prior rounds, and it has expressed at least some interest in coming public. Since it has VC funding, that choice might not even be entirely up to the founders. My prediction: you'll probably be able trade Tesla Motors stock as a public company within the next twelve months or so. Bridge financing is often the last round of financing before a key event (such as an IPO filing or significant final round of financing).

Investing in electric cars, for better or worse, is not so easy. I have noted here are a couple of current investment plays that traders can use for this, but even these are not exactly the easiest out there. Honda Motor Co. (NYSE: HMC) has its new fuel cell car coming to the U.S., but its geographic limitations are going to be severe at first and it will yield nothing significant in terms of percentages of its entire U.S. fleet until after 2010. There is also another tiny OTC-company called Zap! (OTCBB: ZAAP) but as with all OTC stocks you have to be extra diligent in investigating the company. Zap! has its high performance electric cars coming for some $30,000.