# Honda Civic EV That Inspired Tesla Roadster For Sale

> 1994 Honda Civic EV, built by AC Propulsion co-founder Alan Cocconi, is for sale after inspiring Tesla Roadster.
- Title: Honda Civic EV That Inspired Tesla Roadster For Sale
- Summary: 1994 Honda Civic EV, built by AC Propulsion co-founder Alan Cocconi, is for sale after inspiring Tesla Roadster. AC Propulsion's 1994 Honda Civic EV, which…
- Keywords: honda civic, tesla roadster, ac propulsion, alan cocconi, 1994, 81 mpg, electric vehicle, cars, sports, Honda, Civic, Inspired
- Source: Autoweek — https://autoweek.com/car-life/a74173399/honda-civic-ev-that-helped-create-tesla-is-for-sale
- Author: Mark Vaughn
- Published: 2026-10-19T17:22:28+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: honda civic, tesla roadster, ac propulsion, alan cocconi, 1994, 81 mpg, electric vehicle, cars, sports
## AC Propulsion's 1994 Civic EV
The 1994 Honda Civic EV was built by AC Propulsion co-founder Alan Cocconi to test high-tech electric vehicle components.
## Achieved 81 mpg
Cocconi's Civic EV was the only vehicle presented at a government-sponsored event that achieved 81 mpg.
## Inspired Tesla Roadster
The Civic EV's design influenced entrepreneur Martin Eberhart to build the original Tesla Roadster before Elon Musk joined.
## 81 mpg performance
The Civic EV achieved 81 mpg and was described as a powerful electric vehicle with 200 hp and torque available at 1 rpm.
## Now for sale
AC Propulsion CEO Tom Gage is selling the 1994 Civic EV after it was forgotten in Southern California for decades.
## No battery or controller
The Civic EV has no battery, needs a controller, and all dashboard components have been removed.
## Historical significance
The Civic EV is a key piece of electric vehicle history that inspired the Tesla Roadster and is now available for a collector.
## Key takeaway

AC Propulsion's 1994 Honda Civic EV, which achieved 81 mpg and inspired Tesla Roadster, is now for sale in Southern California.