Tesla Motors raises $45M more

Tesla Motors, the San Carlos, Calif. maker of a high-performance electric car, has raised $45 million more in financing.

The new backing for the car, due out later this year, is led by Technology Partners, a Palo Alto venture firm that has focused on green investments, and Tesla’s own chairman, Elon Musk. Also investing are Palo Alto’s Capricorn Investment Group, a private investment firm, and major existing investors. Two investors we haven’t mentioned previously are Valor Equity Partners, of Chicago, and Compass Venture Partners (larger list of investors here).

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See Tesla’s full announcement here:

This is the fourth round of financing, and brings the company’s total to $105 million.

The company said it has received more than 400 deposits for its Roadster, which will go from zero to 60 mph in about four seconds, and cost $90,000. The additional financing will be used to develop its WhiteStar, a four-door, five passenger sports sedan planned for 2009 and costing $50,000 to $65,000.

Among those making deposits so far are Tesla backers Larry Page and Sergey Brin (co-founders of Google). Others include Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and actor George Clooney.