Electric Car Revolution

Ever since the Prius became a household name, hybrid and electric vehicles have been making waves.  There are a wide variety of electric car start-ups popping up all over the place.  And why? Because electric vehicles (EVs) are:

1. Cleaner: even when powered by today's grid, EVs have a CO2 footprint smaller than hybrids.
2. Cheaper: with multiple miles per kilowatt hour, fuel costs for EVs are less than half (as low as one tenth) per mile compared to gas cars and there is much less maintenance.  
3. Domestic: fueled by locally generated electrons, EVs do not fund terrorist régimes.

Install solar panels or a wind turbine and you can fuel your driving with renewable power. 

Tesla Motors has been highly publised, but what else are we Huddlers hearing about?

• Tesla Motors: Tesla's first release is a sexy roadster that is changing the image of the all-electric vehicle.   Keep an eye on this company for future development of more affordable all-electric sedans.

• American Electric Vehicle: Their Kurrent is what they call a neighborhood vehicle.  Sure, you won't sail down the interstate at alarming rates but it can definitely get you to the grocery store in a fun, eco-conscious way.

• Commuter Cars: Has the " high performance, road-hugging, ultra-narrow" Tango coming out. You may have seen the pictures of George Clooney standing outside of his. Did you know that  you can park the Tango perpendicular to the curb?

• ElBil Norge: The Kewet Buddy is a three-seater that comes to you from Norway.  Who could say no to a car that has a cargo space that was "designed around two cases of beer – or 6-8 bags of groceries"?

• Fly Bo: Manufactured in China, the 6000/2 looks similar to a Smart Car.  It is available in the United States.

• Global Electric Motorcars: GEM offers another option for neighborhood electric vehicles (low-speed).

• Modec: Modec offers an electric van for commercial purposes.  It can carry up to two tons, travel 100 miles, and go 50 MPH.
  

• Myers Motors: Calling their cars NMG (No More Gas), Myers  says one of its benefits is that you'll get more attention than if you drive a $100k sports car.

• Reva: Although the Revai isn't available in the United States yet, this India-based company  has been producing all-electric vehicles since 2001.

• Venturi: Can you believe that the Venturi Fetish costs even more than the Tesla?  Well, that's right.  Going for about $435k, the Fetish is an all-electric vehicle that will soon be joined by Venturi's new models (the Eclectic and the Astrolab).

• Zap! Electric Cars: Zap! makes six electric cars and a few different electric scooters.   Some are their vehicles are still in development but their all-electric Xebra sedan is available now.

• Zenn Motors:  With a tag line of "Zero Emissions, No Noise," Zenn  falls in the category of low-speed, short range electric vehicles.

• Lightning Car Company: Here you have the UK's answer to the Tesla.  The all-electric Lighting GT should be released sometime during the first half of 2008.

• Spark Electric Vehicles: Spark EV distributes several different EVs (mostly made in China), including Fly Bo's 6000/2.  But Spark does have the Comet, designed and manufactured entirely by them.

• Think: Another Norweigian company, Think produces the all-electric City.  Keep an eye out for this one to be released in 2008 in Europe and maybe in 2009 in the United States.

• Phoenix Motorcars: You may have  noticed the mention of Phoenix Motorcars in the forums, and if you're looking for an electric sport utility truck or SUV, they might be for you.

• Moteur Developpment International: The vehicle from MDI doesn't really fall into the whole electric or hybrid category.  Why not?  Well, because it runs entirely on compressed air.

• Porteon:  Apparently this Portland based company has signed a deal with a developer in Mexico to bundle the sale of its vehicles with homes.

• Universal Electric Vehicles: UEV 's Spyder is a two-passenger electric vehicle.  It's COM-V3 is a three-wheel electric vehicle designed for the commuter.

• Aptera: Aptera's vehicles look like something from a futuristic movie but they're not that far off.  Aptera plans to release its Typ-1 in late 2008.
  

• Obvio:  Obvio's 828e electric car is sold by Zap! in the United States.  The company's 012 model is available with an electric plugin.

• Venture Vehicles: Venture offers three different configurations of its VentureOne vehicle.  While definitely not the most traditional looking mode of transportation, it's a lot more than a glorified motor-scooter.  Go to the company's website and check out the videos.  They're pretty crazy.

• Miles Electric Vehicles: Miles EV currently offers a low speed electric car and a low speed electric truck.  However, soon a highway speed sedan will be added to their line up.
  

• NICE Car Company: Based in London, NICE offers an electric car, an electric truck, and electric bikes.

• AC Propulsion: This company can boast that it makes the fastest electric car in the world.  It's tzero has been turning heads at Forbes.  Unfortunately it's not for sale - it's just to demonstrate that electric cars can be fast and efficient.

• Mitsubishi i MiEV: Most folks have heard of Mitsubishi.  And yes, it doesn't exactly fit in the rest of the small electric car start-ups.  But if you haven't checked out the i MiEV, you should.  AutoblogGreen calls it "one of the most exciting pure-electric projects discussed by a major automaker."
• Green Vehicles: Their Triac might just be the first highway-speed vehicle on the road in full force.  Test drives should be available in July 2008.
  
• Coda Automotive: Based in California, Coda is the developer of the all-electric Coda Sedan. They plan on delivering 14,000 of the China-made cars to the US in 2011. Coda is also a battery developer.
• Smith Electric Vehicles: Smith Electric Vehicles is the oldest and largest commercial electric vehicle manufacturer in the world. The US Marine Corps has purchased some of their trucks.