A Tesla for kids on a budget

Can't afford a Tesla?

Maybe your kids can. That is if they can pony up $499 from their piggy bank for a lithium-ion battery powered, child-sized version of the Tesla Model S electric car from Radio Flyer.

Yes, the same folks who made the simple wagon you and I used to have as kids are now partnering with the electric car maker for Tesla Model S For Kids.

The news comes as the New York Toy Fair opens, with plastics in abundance, from new Nerf archery sets to 3-D printing for kids.

The Chicago-based wagon maker Radio Flyer notes on its website that the kids' model comes “equipped with high-end features to recreate the ultimate Tesla experience. You choose the paint color, performance, accessories and personalization.”

That includes a connection for your digital music player to go with the working sound system (because of course the kids' version of a Tesla has a sound system … as well as working LED lights).

Parents can set the maximum speed at 3 mph or 6 mph.

No official word from Radio Flyer on what the body of the toy Tesla is made out of. Radio Flyer notes on its website that 45 percent of its materials are plastic and 40 percent steel, with the rest made from wood and other materials.

The Model S For Kids uses lithium ion batteries — just like the real Tesla — and options include a $50 spare battery so kids don't have to wait for their car to charge.

But a warning for those tempted to get the toy Tesla for themselves … the weight limit for riders is 81 pounds. And while Radio Flyer may advertise it as having a “spacious interior,” it might be a bit cramped for adults.