Tesla Motors, the company founded by Elon Musk, has received over $450 million in federal loans in order to get production of its electric vehicles up to speed. The stock has seen short interest recently hit an all time high of 25% of its total shares at the end of last month. Whilst short sellers have retreated slightly in the last months, the current short interest represents nearly 90% of available shares sitting in lending programs. The company is forecasted to continue its loss making streak for the seventh year running after missing its original revenue target by a third for the 2012 fiscal year. The other major electric car company is Hong Kong listed BYD, which also sees high short interest. The company has seen demand to borrow jump 13% in the last three months to 7.5% of shares. Component firms Component firms also see high short interest as the supply chain for electric cars feel the pinch brought on by the lack of demand for the technology. Polypore whose membranes make up three quarters of revenue, has seen short interest jump to over 30% of shares in the last year. Fellow component firm Maxwell Technologies also sees above average short interest with 6% of shares out on loan. This number is down from 16% seen in April when the company saw its share price decline by a third following disappointing earnings. Mass market appeal? Perhaps the most disappointed investors from the lack of demand for electric cars are