http://www.plentymag.com/blogs/edge/2007/11/the_second_coming_of_the_elect.phpThe electric car is the zombie of transportation: never quite dead but not exactly dancing a hornpipe either. GM took a run at it in the 90’s with the famously-killed EV1, but with the Ed Begley Jr. fan club a limited market and the cheap gas party still going strong, the time wasn’t yet right. However, as new technology enhances the range and performance of electrics, and oil prices close in on a hundred bucks a barrel, all kinds of competitors are jumping into the fray. Here are some eco-mobiles you might be parking in your driveway in the not too distant future:
If you need to buy right now, consider the Zenn, manufactured right here in my home town of Toronto. It’s kind of cute, but with a maximum speed of 25 mph and a range of 35 miles, it’s pretty much a golf cart on steroids. Still, for trips in the immediate neighborhood, it will do the job with zero emissions.
Much sexier, pricier, and less obtainable is the Tesla roadster. This electric sports car has gotten a lot of press lately, even though not a single production model has rolled off the assembly line. If and when it hits the street, the company claims the vehicle will be able to accelerate to 60mph in 4 seconds, and hum along for about 245 miles without recharging. If you want to sign up for one, it’ll cost you about 100 grand but you can be smug in the knowledge that you’re on the same waiting list as George Clooney. The first Tesla drivers are scheduled to get their vehicles in early 2008.
Of course, as the public mindset gets greener, the big automakers are looking to get back into the game. They have considerable advantages over the new entrepreneurial companies—existing manufacturing facilities, supplier relationships, sales infrastructure, etc.—so it’s quite possible that an existing car company could wind up with the first mass-market electric vehicle. Chevrolet, for example, is presently working on a concept vehicle descriptively called the Volt. According to Chevy, the Volt will be able to run not only on electricity but on gas, biodiesel, or E85, although personally I’d be interested in a coffee-powered version so my car and I could refuel from the same source. Intriguing for sure, but sadly Chevy doesn’t expect this versatile vehicle to be available until 2011 or 2012.
<more>