A couple of decades ago, electric cars were not taken seriously. That’s because the whole idea of driving a vehicle using only a battery wasn’t yet too developed back then. It’s just like driving a toy car that would run out of gas right in the middle of the race.

However, the dwindling gas reserves have made alternative energy to become a hotly-pursued commodity. When electric cars entered the picture several years later, they were no longer ridiculed. Instead, they were welcomed with open arms because of the potential that they laid on the table.

Meanwhile, a Norwegian automaker called Think Global has been tinkering on electric cars for a few years now. After a few failed attempts in making a prototype, the company finally launched the impressive Th!nk City. Basically, the Th!nk City is the only crash-tested and highway-certified electric car in the world. That alone speaks volumes about how well this car was designed and built. When it comes to performance, the Th!nk City can go as fast as 65 mph and a range of about 126 miles. Aside from that, you can drag in four people inside, because it has enough space for that.

The Th!nk City is not a microcar unlike other electric vehicles out there. In fact, it can even be classified as a sub-compact because of its size and design. On the other hand, the Th!nk City costs around 32,500 USD. Although that may be a bit too pricey, just think of how much you’ll save with your gas bills. Since it’s an electric car, it does not emit any noxious gases that can harm the environment. Apart from that, it’s ideal for your city-driving needs anytime of the day or week.

People suddenly shifted from power to fuel economy when it comes to cars for the last couple of years. That’s because the constant rise in fuel prices has started to affect everyone’s budget all over the world. Because of that, almost all big-named players out there have created their own version of electric or hybrid cars that stretch a gallon of fuel to several miles. It’s no longer new when you see these extremely cars roaming around the city streets these days.

Meanwhile, Mitsubishi just released a rather cute-looking car that can save you thousands of money when it comes to gas. In fact, you don’t need gas at all to operate it, because it’s an electric car. The ImiEV may look like a toy, but it’s a serious player when you talk about its MPG rating. The ImiEV is an electric car that may be the answer to your gas woes that have been plaguing for forever. The ImiEV may look like some mini-cars out there, although its decisive advantage is its plug-in electric power that very few out there can match.

Though the ImiEV may look small for American standards, most owners these days prefer these road Lilliputians, instead of their more traditional, Goliath counterparts. The ImiEV is an impressive ride that is fast, nimble, and surprisingly spacious. In fact, four adults can fit inside it without feeling claustrophobic at all. It may seem pretty awkward driving it as fast but make no mistake about it, because it’s made with the best technology out there.

Power-wise, there’s not much you can get from this car, which can only generate 64-horsepower. However, the ImiEV isn’t built to compete against the Ford 250, so there’s no point in expecting it to jack up on torque power at all. The good news is, the ImiEV is small enough to weave through traffic that the city throws at you everyday. Why need so much power when all you want to do is get to the office on time, right?

Basically, the ImiEV has a 16-kwh lithium-ion battery that can bring you to as far as 70 miles. That maybe not much, but remember it’s a battery-powered car that does not release any kind of emission, which is hazardous to the environment. On the other hand, all you need to do to get the ImiEV going is to plug it in any 110-volt outlet and recharge it for 12 hours. If you don’t have a 110-volt, then plugging it in a 220-volt outlet will cut your time in six hours.

The ImiEV will be out next year and a lot of people are raving about its efficiency when it comes to fuel and price. That’s because the ImiEV costs only 30,000 USD and its battery can last for 10 years with very little maintenance required. Although the electric car is still far from attaining the status of the hybrid, it’s a solid alternative when oil becomes really scarce in the coming years.

Three-wheeled vehicles are seldom respected. That’s because you can’t use them on rough terrain, not unless you don’t mind tipping over. However, with the economy spiraling downward and the gas prices being very volatile, there’s one car with three wheels that you can actually like─ The Zap Xebra.

Manufactured by Zap Corporation, the Zap Xebra is an electric vehicle that can surely curt down your gas bills in half or maybe even more. Basically, the Zap Xebra can go as fast as 40 mph with a range of about 60 miles. Although that may be too low for your tastes, it’s perfect for short city-driving and street cruising for a few hours.

Aside from that, the Zap Xebra can carry as much as four people and the pickup version can even haul some cargo. If you think that the range is limited, the Zap Xebra has a solar panel mounted on top of it, for extra energy when your battery runs out. The fact is, the Zap Xebra is a good choice if you’re not going to some tough interstate driving. It isn’t that expensive either, which means you can easily replace it without any worries.

When it comes to dimensions, the Zap Xebra is about 10-feet long and five-feet high. Aside from that, it only weighs less than 2000 lbs. and even though its range is rather limited, you can easily plug it on any electric outlets for recharging.

These days, the most pressing issue is whether a vehicle can maximize its fuel without emitting noxious gases. The Zap Xebra can address that issue without the accompanying price tag of other electric vehicles.

ECC, also known as the Electric Car Corporation Plc, has just announced its launch of a new, “all electric”, 4-seater, production car that will be made available to the public today.

This recent UK launch comes right in the heels of the announcement from the government saying how they subsidize and support the use of electric cars. The British government has also expressed their commitment in making the UK the “world leader” in creating and exporting quality electric cars. London’s own mayor, Boris Johnson, has also revealed plans of introducing 25,000 recharging points throughout the city. These recharging points should make it easier for electric car drivers to keep their rides ready for longer road trips.

The new electric car is going to be called the Citroën C1 ev’ie. It’s the first 4-seater, all-electric ride that’s designed to give its drivers (and passengers) superior comfort and performance. This car even comes complete with all the standard safety features you’ll find in your usual gas-powered car.

WhatGreenCar.com also reports that this vehicle is capable of running 60-70 miles when fully-charged, at a level speed of approximately 60mph. Not bad for an electric car, right?

To keep this car completely-charged, you can also plug it in for around 6-7 hours in a domestic 13 amp socket. That should cost you around 90p, which means you’re going to be spending less than 2p per mile.

Citroën C1 ev’ie models will be assembled in the United Kingdom from the donor car. And the company expects to produce around 500 of the C1 ev’ies in the next 12 months. Significantly rising to 2,000-4,000 units by next year depending on public demand and the government support.

“We are committed to providing greener alternatives for motorists and are delighted to be supplying ECC with C1s for this exciting project,” the Managing Director of the Citroën UK, Xavier Duchemin, said.

ECC plc Chief Executive David Martell also commented: “We believe this is the first serious alternative to a petrol or diesel car. It drives just like a petrol car and has excellent capacity for use in any town or city in the UK…The key to building a successful electric car is an efficient battery management system (BMS). ECC has developed an advanced and sophisticated system, which when coupled with regenerative breaking, can provide the driver with much greater range and better performance.”

The C1 ev’ie is said to be priced at $16,850 and can be bought directly from ECC.

I know so many people who have been reading and asking about electric cars recently. I laud them for their enthusiasm, although I am against letting them buy something without knowing some background about it first. It’s great that you finally want to get away from being dependent on gasoline and clearly, choosing an electric car is one hell of a choice.

However, before you withdraw some cash and order the latest model, there are some things that you have to know first. The fact is, there are many manufacturers offering them now, but unlike regular cars, there are special considerations that you have to be aware of before purchasing one. So here I go.

Not Exactly Your Average Car

Yes, you read that right. Every electric is unique but if there’s one common thing about them is that they travel at very low speeds. Something like 25 mph and anything above that is illegal. Because of that, you can’t expect an electric car to torch the road because it can’t and it isn’t allowed to do so.

Why Are They Slow?

The fact is, most electric cars are small and they have not undergone the rigorous crash tests that the conventional cars have to go through. Because of their size, they can’t have the massive engine that most gasoline-powered cars have. However, these cars are so energy efficient that you can expect to make the most out of every voltage that you use on it.

The Federal law however that prevents electric cars from being really free out there is because of the golf carts. A couple of years ago, golf carts have become so prevalent on various communities even without having safety equipment such as seat belts, horn, brakes, tail lamps, and even windshield. So basically, you should blame it on golf carts for preventing funky electric cars from owning our highways.

NEVs Anyone?

An NEV or Neighborhood Electric Car does not necessarily give you the handle, drivability, and versatility of most traditional cars, but that was back then. These days, more and more manufacturers are making their electric cars less cute as they try to emulate sedans and even pickups. Although they still need to do a lot of work as far as comfort and performance are concerned, it will not be surprising if electric cars catch up with their more illustrious and older counterparts.

There Are Two Kinds

Just like your gasoline-powered vehicles, electric cars come in two varieties and these are the enclosed and the open-air types. The latter gives you that sensation of being inside a jeep, while the latter looks more like mini cars. Open-air types are good if you’re don’t like cramped space. However, they offer very little protection against the nasty weather that closed types provide.

The Cost

Naturally, an electric car costs more than your regular car because it uses special batteries, motors, and systems. However, two years of driving can pretty much cancel out the amount that you spent for it because you won’t be paying anything when it comes to gas. All you need is electricity and that’s about it, although there are serious concerns when it comes to the distance that this kind of vehicle has. Basically, most electric cars have a price range of 7,000 to 15,000 USD.

The Worth

An electric car is not for everyone, especially if you want to travel for long distances. However, if you just roam around the city from home to work, then this one is a solid choice. Even if these cars look weird and they don’t provide the boost that most cars provide; they have amazing advantages that can never be overlooked and these are: no tailpipe emissions, no dependence on petroleum, and more importantly, they look great.

I’m definitely one of the guys who is going root for anything green these days. That’s why I was simply ecstatic when Chrysler mentioned that it will be putting up a new electric car model from its GEM subsidiary. The car called the Peapod Electric Car does not look like any electric cars out there, but it certainly has a lot of promise with the way it looked.

Meanwhile, Chrysler’s GEM division has always produced intriguing and unique electric cars through the years, although not a lot of people have shown interest because gasoline was what was ticking back then. However, I was glad that GEM took it a step further as they finally gave a sneak peak of its next model called the Peapod Electric Car. Basically, the Peapod Electric Car is a futuristic Neighborhood Electric Vehicle or NEV.

Compared to other electric vehicles out there, the Peapod Electric Car is certainly out of this world. In short, its bulging and tubular design will make you think that it’s the Volkswagen Beetle after 100 years. Its windshield is massive and it comes in very bright colors, which remind you of your toy cars when you were eight-years old. Unlike other GEM models, this one is totally enclosed so passengers will stay dry all throughout their journey, even if the rain is pouring outside.

Basically, the Peapod Electric Car uses Chrysler’s ENVI design, which is entirely dedicated to developing electric-powered vehicles. This car definitely looks like it was taken from newspaper 50 years from now. To put it simply, it does not look like anywhere near the cars that you see on the road these days. The Peapod Electric Car has a teardrop front that uses big-sized glasses. When it comes to the interior, you’ll be surprised to know that it is more spacious than it actually looks. The truth is, four passengers can fit comfortably inside without any problems.

Furthermore, the Peapod Electric Car has a 102-inch wheelbase and has an overall length of 143.6 inches. It’s basically having a Mini Cooper-like vehicle that runs in electric power rather than gasoline. When it comes to weight, the Peapod Electric Car is 1290 pounds, while its aluminum frame will make sure that it will stay tough no matter what.

Because the Peapod Electric Car uses electricity to move around, it has 12-volt lead-acid batteries. The best part is, you can plug-in this car in any standard 110-volt outlet for 6 to 8 hours and you can start roaming around for at least 30 miles. When you talk about its speed, it won’t be able to beat any car on the road with its measly 30 mph speed, but you’re no Lewis Hamilton, so you don’t need speed at all. The truth is, the Peapod Electric Car is built for congested areas not on race track ovals. With that being said, this is the best car to beat the city traffic without emitting any harmful exhaust gases to the environment.

With the trend turning against gasoline-powered vehicles, it will not be surprising if the Peapod Electric Car becomes one of the most sought-after electric cars in the coming years. Basically, Chrysler has committed in manufacturing this car for 2009 and it will be distributed in several countries that have electric-vehicle infrastructures. The Peapod Electric Car definitely has a lot of potential and I wouldn’t call it lucky if becomes a staple part of the streets in the future.

You probably haven’t been on a bicycle for such long time do you? Unless you are enthusiasts, most people have been on a bicycle for decades. The truth is, when you start learning how to drive, driving the bike is no longer an option. Using bicycles may be a dark horse candidate when oil becomes so rare and because of that, there’s already a car that runs using pedal power, albeit on a limited extend. This new car, which looks more like a bicycle is called TWIKE.

It’s basically built to carry a maximum of two passengers and several other things in its cargo space. The most intriguing aspect about the TWIKE is that runs on both electric power and pedal power. The thing is, you need both the battery and pedal power to work hand in hand in order for it to work perfectly.

Apparently, pedaling extends the distance of this vehicle, although it will never increase its top speed. Also, you need to have your batteries working all the time, because merely using your leg power won’t move the TWIKE an inch.

Construction

The TWIKE uses lightweight materials such as aluminum and plastic in order to minimize its weight as much as possible. Electric cars should be as light as possible, because they don’t have enough power to sustain their weight. The TWIKE only weighs a total of 246 kg, while using a reliable 336-volt battery at the same time. Unlike other electric cars out there, you can recharge the TWIKE in only two hours in any 22-volt electric outlet out there. The best part about the TWIKE is that it uses whatever you have on your legs to ease the load on its electric system. Unlike conventional vehicles, the TWIKE forces you to exercise because it’s part of its entire functioning process. It’s driving, while being able to workout your cardiovascular system at the same time.

How the TWIKE Operates

Instead of using steering wheels, the TWIKE is controlled using a joystick, reminiscent of a train. Although not generally fast at 85 kph, you can increase its speed depending on the battery’s power and the weight of the cargo that it has. Basically, you can reach as fast as 140 kph on a leveled field, faster driving style, and the less weight onboard.

The Costs

Fully charging your TWIKE can cost you around 30-45 cents. However, the downside of electric cars such as this is the cost of batteries that need to be replaced eventually. With that being said, you need to be able to maintain it properly to extend its service by a few years. On the other hand, the TWIKE is currently being manufactured in Germany by a company called FINE MOBILE. In the US, there are currently 20-25 TWIKES that are driven. Although it may look like a trike more than anything else, it’s a good and rather unorthodox choice if you want to really cut down on your gas bills.

Is it Really Available?

The TWIKE is available both in Europe and the United States and each one costs around 40, 000 USD. Meanwhile, only around 850 TWIKES have been sold and most of them can be found Switzerland, Germany, UK, Austria, Netherlands, Italy, France, Spain, Belgium, and the US. Overall, the TWIKE may be limited, but if you’re really into using alternative energy, then it’s a good choice. Apart from that, the TWIKE is a total sight out there, so if you don’t mind getting the extra attention, you should have this car.

When I was a young kid, I seriously believed that after 20 years, cars would start flying. Although most cars these days are still far from being air-borne, seeing the developmental Aptera 2e tells you that it’s no longer that far. In fact, it’s even better because it addresses the basic issue in the automotive industry today: fuel consumption.

Basically, the Aptera 2e does not look like any typical car at all. The thing is, if you think that the Smart Fortwo is already unorthodox, wait until you see the Aptera 2e. It doesn’t look like a car at all, perhaps it’s closer to a motorcycle more than anything else.

This car is already at the final stages of its development and it will probably take a few more tweaks before Aperta Motors launches it. For starters, the Aptera 2e has a fuel efficiency that is pegged at a ridiculous 300 mpg, which will make it the most fuel-efficient car in history.

Although far from being a Tesla Roadster, the Aptera 2e can accelerate from 0-60 mph in less than 10 seconds and its manufacturer claims that it can reach a top speed of 85 mph. Those numbers are far from amazing, but you don’t need a car that torches the road if you’re going to do some city driving. The great thing about this car is its price and that’s because the electric prototype costs around 27,000 USD, while the hybrid is priced at 30,000 USD. Now that’s far from really expensive, but it’s just like buying a new Ford or Chrysler that eat gas like there’s no tomorrow.

Performance-wise, the Aptera 2e is expected to consume around 80 watt-hours per mile. Basically, its strange shape and look is due to extensive optimization in lessening its drag coefficient. Aside from that, it has low-resistance tires that are built for city driving more than anything else. The direct influence of the style and design comes from Volkswagen one-liter car that is expected to be released in 2010.

The Aptera 2e is different to other cars because it has three wheels instead of four. The front wheels are designed for steering, while the rear wheel is connected to the electric motor. When it comes to batteries, the Aptera 2e uses Lithium phosphate batteries that you can find in front of the driver seat. The great thing about this car is that it will only take you 2-4 hours of recharge time, unlike other electric cars that need at least 12 hours to start going.

The plug-in version or the Aptera 2h has a water-cooled EFI engine that has a tank capacity of at least 12 gallons. Compared to the Aptera 2e, its hybrid brother can manage to reach 600-700 miles of traveling.

When it comes to the interior, both the Aptera 2e and Aptera 2h can allow two adults and a child in the middle. The cargo space isn’t that much, but it isn’t laughable either and that’s because it has almost 16-cubic feet of available space. In addition, it uses LED running and interior lights to reduce power consumption.

It also has basic entertainment features such as a radio, DVD player, and a GPS system that are controlled through the dashboard. With these amazing features and the need for more fuel-efficient cars, the Aptera 2e will be a big hit when it is released. Aside from that, it will redefine how cars look and even though it can’t fly; it reduces energy consumption by leaps and bounds.