Good news. Within five years, electric vehicle enthusiasts who savor the style of Tesla’s sleek roadsters – but not the pocketbook – may be able to slip behind the wheel. In a recent article by the UK’s Autocar, Tesla CEO Elon Musk revealed plans to bring to market an affordable EV option, reported to ring in at approximately $30,000.

The yet-to-be-named vehicle will join the lineup that currently includes the company’s $110,000 two-seater (slated to cease production in 2011), as well as the recently announced 2012 Model S sedan.  Rumored to mirror the BMW 3 Series, the new car holds potential to be a springboard for a similarly badged coupe, sedan or crossover variant.  And according to Autocar, it will be built right here in the U.S. at a new west coast plant.

Such a car could bump Tesla’s production volume to nearly 200,000 vehicles per year, staking claim as a practical (not just pretty, performance-based) manufacturer.