Electric cars have failed to make the big impact that politicians had hoped, but a new model from US company Tesla may mark a comeback for a fossil-fuel alternative.

The Tesla Model S, a five-door passenger car that was recently handed the jury award by the Danish car club, Motorjournalisternes Klub Danmark, has been snapped up by both Crown Prince Frederik and Climate Minister Martin Lidegaard (R) and is experiencing strong sales across Scandinavia.

Lidegaard opted for the S85 model that can drive around 500 kilometres without needing to be charged and accelerate from standstill to 100 km/h in just over five seconds.

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Less costly, less dirty
“I am very pleased to be able to travel in a climate-friendly car as climate minister," Lidegaard said in a press release, adding that it emits a third less CO2 than his previous ministerial car, a BMW 520 D.

And while the 580,000 kroner electric car is more expensive than its predecessor, it is expected to save the ministry money in the long-term through lower taxes and fuel and servicing costs.

While the car is only being tested as part of a pilot scheme that is running until August, many Danes have decided that the car’s reputation was enough for them to make the jump to electric.

Climate plan needs electric cars
Tesla expects to sell around 300 Model Ss in Denmark before the end of the year, while 616 have been sold in Norway through September – 13,000 Model Ss have so far been sold around the world.

The sale of electric cars in Denmark has so far been poor and marked by significant setbacks such as the closure of the ambitious electric car company Better Place earlier this year.

This has spelled trouble for the government, which set ambitious climate targets that cannot be achieved unless more Danes ditch their petrol and diesel cars in favour of cars powered with electricity harnessed from renewable energy sources.