

We hate to see these because a totaled Tesla Roadster is enough to make us cry, but we know it's for the greater good.

Yesterday we told you the Roadster has passed all of the federal Department of Transportation crash tests and other hurdles and goes into production March 17. To give you an idea of what's involved and how the Tesla performed, Malcolm Powell, the company's vice president of vehicle integration, posted some pics over at his blog, where he said:

...how did the final certification tests go? Well, I still have some hair and it’s not all grey. Thanks to great design, structural analysis, build quality and well run test management, we have successfully completed the entire suite of dynamic impact testing to meet both FMVSS

and, as importantly, our own very strenuous internal performance targets.

Powell offers a detailed rundown on the tests - which cover not only crash durability, but window defrosters, mirrors and 38 other things - and says the Tesla passed with flying colors.

Pics courtesy of Tesla Motors.