An electric car is powered by an electric motor instead of a gasoline engine. The electric motor gets energy from a controller, which regulates the amount of power—based on the driver’s use of an accelerator pedal. The electric car (also known as electric vehicle or EV) uses energy stored in its rechargeable batteries, which are recharged by common household electricity.

>> Take a quick tour of electric cars you can buy today (or very soon)!

Unlike a hybrid car—which is fueled by gasoline and uses a battery and motor to improve efficiency—an electric car is powered exclusively by electricity. Historically, EVs have not been widely adopted because of limited driving range before needing to be recharged, long recharging times, and a lack of commitment by automakers to produce and market electric cars that have all the creature comforts of gas-powered cars. That’s changing. As battery technology improves—simultaneously increasing energy storage and reducing cost—major automakers are expected to begin introducing a new generation of electric cars.

Electric cars produce no tailpipe emissions, reduce our dependency on oil, and are cheaper to operate. Of course, the process of producing the electricity moves the emissions further upstream to the utility company’s smokestack—but even dirty electricity used in electric cars usually reduces our collective carbon footprint.

Another factor is convenience: In one trip to the gas station, you can pump 330 kilowatt-hours of energy into a 10-gallon tank. It would take about 9 days to get the same amount of energy from household electric current. Fortunately, it takes hours and not days to recharge an electric car, because it’s much more efficient. Speaking of convenience, let’s not forget two important points: charging up at home means never going to a gas station—and electric cars require almost none of the maintenance, like oil changes and emissions checks, that internal combustion cars require.

Electric motors develop their highest torque from zero rpms—meaning fast (and silent) zero-to-60 acceleration times.

Note: In the illustration, we show the relative features of electric cars and gas-powered cars. However, it doesn’t have to be an “either-or” situation. Plug-in hybrids offer many of the benefits of electric cars while mitigating most of the drawbacks, such as limited driving range.

1New and Upcoming Electric Cars

Just as the major car companies were crushing their electric car programs in 2004 and 2005, the perfect storm was brewing on the horizon: Hurricane Katrina, growing acceptance of global warming, runaway Prius sales, oil price spikes, green marketing galore…The major auto companies went right back to the drawing board and emerged with big plans for electric cars.

The following companies have announced intentions to produce electric vehicles, but have not discussed specific vehicle details: Volkswagen and Peugeot Citroën.

2Limited Run Electric Cars

Not content to follow the slow timelines from the major car companies, a number of entrepreneurs have taken the bold step of building mainstream highway-capable all-electric vehicles. The payoff could be big—but the logistical hurdles, such as federal highway crash testing, are daunting and very expensive. Those costs will get passed on to customers—those that are willing to wait for months or years for innovative companies to roll out models even in small quantities.

The poster child of the independent electric car movement has been Tesla Motors. When the company launched, it promised to reinvent the auto industry in the mold of a Silicon Valley start-up—and leave Detroit in its dust. After hitting a number of potholes—product delays, boardroom discord, and major operating losses—the company emerged looking good. An investment from Daimler, a $465 million government loan, and a potential IPO, add up to cash and momentum for the electric car start-up.

Within the Limited Run category, a number of companies are converting existing gas-engine models into electric vehicles:

Also, limited runs of the following all-electric sports car are extremely limited: the UEV Spyder, Mullen L1x-75, UK’s Lightning and the Venturi Fetish, selling for about $75,000, $125,000, $200,000 and $300,000 respectively.

3Low-Speed and Three-Wheel Electric Cars

Aptera 2e

The arduous road to delivering a new highway-speed electric vehicle to the market can be bypassed in two primary ways: limiting the electric vehicle to three wheels (so it can be legally classified as a motorcycle) or limiting the vehicles legal top speed to 25 miles per hour (so it can avoid highway crash testing). Those strategies lower the “barrier to entry,” opening the gates to scores of fledgling companies offering some mighty funky machines. It’s a long list, so we’ll keep our descriptions to a minimum. We’ve also eliminated companies that do not provide a base-level of information about products and prices—and products not directly selling in North America.

4Discontinued and Rare Electric Cars

The most promising recent period for electric vehicles was the 1990s—at least it seemed so at the time. In September 1990, the California Air Resources Board mandated that 2 percent of all new cars sold by major automakers in California would be “zero emission” vehicles by 1998—growing to 10 percent by 2003. That sent automakers scrambling to produce electric vehicles for the mass market. Obviously, things didn’t work out as planned. (See “Who Killed the Electric Car” for details.) Very few units were ever produced, and nearly all of them were destroyed. The remaining units are extremely hard to find and very expensive.

Did we miss a crucial electric vehicle? Are our facts straight? Let us know so we can keep this page complete and up-to-date. Thanks.

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Which are the Best Hybrid or Diesel SUVs? That Depends on Your Needs.

With more than 10 hybrid SUVs currently on the market—and clean diesel models also worth considering— consumers can choose features and pricing best suited to their specific needs:

• Affordability and Maximum Efficiency: Ford Escape Hybrid
• V8 Performance and Towing: Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, GMC Yukon Hybrid
• Seven-Passenger Seating: Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, Chevy Tahoe Hybrid
• Luxury: Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, Lexus RX 450h

The List of Hybrid SUVs

In addition to gas-electric hybrid SUVs, our sortable list also include diesels and conventional small SUV alternatives—as well as plug-in hybrid and hydrogen SUVs in the works.

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Contents

• Hybrid Market Remains Flat
• Prius versus Insight
• Hybrid Upgrades
• 2009 Hybrid Introductions
• Plug-in Hybrid Introductions

What will be the most important 2009 hybrid car developments? The biggest stories are the release of the third-generation Prius and the return of the Honda Insight. Both are high-volume well-priced options for mainstream car buyers. We will also see the first hybrid introductions from Mercedes and BMW, and improved vehicles from Ford and Honda. By the end of the year, new plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles will make debuts—although as niche offerings.

Hybrids Beat Overall Market by Staying Flat

Despite tough economic times and a shrinking US vehicle market, demand for hybrids continues to outpace the overall market. We expect the hybrid market to defy the gravity of a recession in 2009.

Hybrid sales—as a percentage of all new car sales—are likely to remain flat from 2008 levels at about 2.5 percent. But considering the overall car market is shrinking in 2009, the total number of hybrid sales will drop to about 250,000. The Toyota Prius—the third-generation version that debuted in January—will continue to be the biggest seller, but will be joined by the 2010 Honda Insight. Honda has a US sales target of 100,000 units per year, but will have difficulty reaching that number. The remaining sales will come from a field of hybrids that will grow from 15 models in late 2008 to beyond 20—including Ford’s first hybrid sedans, the first hybrid from Mercedes, and a dedicated hybrid-only model from Lexus. The two-mode full hybrid version of the Saturn Vue small SUV was put on the shelf as GM sold off the brand in its bankruptcy.

Battle of the Hybrid Titans

The first two hybrids to hit the US market back in late 1999/early 2000, were the Insight and Prius. Well, it’s back to the future. Nine years later, these two hybrid titans will once again dominate, although the Prius will remain the biggest seller.

The new Toyota Prius was unveiled at the Detroit auto show in January 2009. The third generation Prius is be bigger and more powerful. The engine grew from 1.5 liters to 1.8 liters—giving a boost in horsepower from 110 to 160—and the body is be three to four inches longer and about an inch wider. The combined US fuel economy rating is 50 mpg, by keeping the weight down to current levels and re-engineering the powertrain to extend the range of all-electric gas-free driving.

The next Prius does not offer plug-in capabilities and continues to use nickel metal hydride batteries, rather than switching to lithium ion batteries.

In the spring, Honda began shipping its revitalized Honda Insight—perfectly priced several thousand dollars below the Prius. At $20,000, the 2010 Honda Insight is be the most affordable high-mpg vehicle on the market.

The new Honda Insight is more practical than the earlier Insight. It’s a five-door hatchback with ample room for five passengers. The aerodynamic design borrows elements from Honda’s FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle, and bears resemblance to the Toyota Prius’s iconic hatchback profile. Honda is pinning its hybrid resurgence on the Insight—and plans to follow in future years with a Honda CR-Z hybrid and perhaps a Honda Fit hybrid.

Upgrades for 2009 Hybrid Model Year

The 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid’s engine grew from 2.3 liters to 2.5. The vehicle maintains its lead position for SUV fuel economy.

• 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid

  The Honda Civic, including the hybrid version, gets a sportier style with three larger air -intakes—and new high-tech features for 2009. The front bumper cover and grille are more angular. Inside, the hybrid gets optional leather-trimmed seats, as well as heated fronts seats and side mirrors. A bluetooth-ready navigation system and USB audio interface are also available.

• 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid and 2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid

  For 2009, the Ford Escape Hybrid replaces a 2.3-liter engine with a 2.5—boosting net horsepower from 155 to 177. Ford engineers refined the Escape hybrid’s braking system to allows for better traction and stability control, and a smoother feel to the brakes, previously not incorporated into the hybrid system. Noise and vibrations have been reduced in the process. This is especially evident when the engine shuts off and the vehicle moves into all-electric mode. A 110-volt AC power outlet now comes standard. The Mercury Mariner Hybrid receives the Sync voice-activated phone and music system as standard equipment.

• 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid

  For 2009, the Malibu Hybrid is rated at 26 city and 34 highway—meaning a much healthier 4-mpg boost over the base-level Malibu. The previous Malibu Hybrid only managed a 2-mpg gain. The combined fuel economy in our road text was 29.8 miles per gallon. (Unfortunately, the Malibu was another victim of GM’s bankruptcy.)

2009 Hybrid Introductions

In 2009, Mercedes will introduce its first hybrid.

• Ford Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan Hybrid

  Hybrid versions of the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan were introduced in 2009. Ford’s first hybrid sedans use a 2.5-liter engine to yield 200 horsepower. The entire 2009 Fusion lineup received a design refresh, including new headlines and front grille and a complete redesign of the interior. More importantly, the cars return 41 miles per gallon on the EPA city cycle, said chief engineer J.D. Shanahan, and highway mileage “at least 6 miles a gallon better than Camry Hybrid”—which would be 40 mpg or higher. This beats the mileage for the 2008 Camry Hybrid, at 33/34 (city/highway). Other impressive statistics for the Fusion Hybrid include pure electric speeds as high as 47 miles per hour, up to 2 miles of continuous electric-only driving, and a range of 700 city miles on one tank of gasoline.

• Mercedes S-Class Hybrid

  In September 2009, Mercedes will begin to sell a hybrid version of its luxury S-Class sedan—the first hybrid to use lighter and more powerful lithium ion batteries. (Europe will see the vehicle earlier in the summer.) The company promises 30 miles per gallon—a 20 percent fuel economy improvement over the conventional S400. The lithium battery may be leading edge technology but it’s offered at a bleeding edge cost: The S-Class starts at about $88,000—so expect the Mercedes hybrid to cost about $30,000 more than the only other luxury hybrid sedan on the market, the V8 Lexus GS 450h.

  The Lexus, with a whopping 430 horsepower from its hybrid V8 powertrain, will outperform the Mercedes S400 Hybrid’s combined electric and gas rating of 295 horsepower and top speed of 155 miles per hour. Bear in mind that the Lexus GS only managed 23 miles to the gallon. The Mercedes S400 Hybrid will be the first in a series of hybrids expected from the company in coming years.

• New Dedicated Lexus Hybrid: Lexus HS 250h

  The Lexus HS 250h is the Lexus brand’s first dedicated hybrid, just as the Prius was for its parent brand Toyota. A comparison to the 2010 Prius is apt, since the two cars share the same basic platform. They both ride on a 106.3-inch wheelbase, though the Lexus HS 250h is 2 inches wider, half an inch higher, and a full 9 inches longer than its hatchback relative. The HS also has a larger 2.4-liter engine—similar to the one in the Toyota Camry Hybrid—against the 1.8-liter engine used by the 2010 Prius. The complete hybrid system in the Lexus is fully 40 percent more powerful than that of the Prius: 187 horsepower compared to 134. Official EPA mileage for the HS 250h is 35 mpg in the city and 34 on the highway. The new Lexus HS will go on sale for $34,200 in August 2009.

• BMW 7-Series Hybrid

  BMW launched its new 7-series in Paris and unveiled a hybrid concept version which will cut fuel use by 15 percent. It combines a V8 engine with electric drive with a mild hybrid system.

2009 Hybrid Plug-in Introductions

Fisker Karma.

Press releases from a number of small and innovative car companies are promising limited run plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles. Like Tesla Motors, which has had trouble pushing vehicles out of the factory, these companies are likely to face challenges in delivering more than a handful of vehicles to consumer.

• Fisker Karma

  The Karma accelerates from 0-60 mph in less than six seconds, and has a top speed of 125 mph. The four-door plug-in hybrid premium sports sedan will have a starting price of $80,000. Initial deliveries of the Karma are schedule to commence in the fourth quarter of 2009.

• VentureOne

  What do you get when you combine the exhilaration of riding a fast motorcycle, the safety and comfort of a commuter car, and the fuel efficiency of advanced automotive technologies? The VentureOne—a two-passenger, three-wheeled, 100-mpg plug-in series hybrid from Venture Vehicles in Los Angeles.

• Phoenix Motorcars SUT

  Phoenix Motorcars, based in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., had big plans to shake up the EV world in 2009, but fell short and finally sputtered into Chapter 11. Its fate is undetermined but the prospects are not high. The company had planned to use engine-less vehicles supplied by Ssangyong, Korea’s fourth largest automaker, as the basis for its electric vehicle line in the US. (Ssangyong doesn’t sell cars in the United States). Analysts questioned Phoenix’s business model for years and its capacity to deliver a $45,000 SUT in any quantities. It now appears that the few models that were produced will become collector’s items.

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Which are the Best Hybrid SUVs? That Depends on Your Needs.

With more than 10 hybrid SUVs currently on the market—and more in the works— consumers can choose features and pricing for the best hybrid SUVs suited to their specific needs:

• Affordability and Maximum Efficiency: Ford Escape Hybrid, Mazda Tribute Hybrid, Mercury Mariner Hybrid
• V8 Performance and Towing: Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, GMC Yukon Hybrid
• Seven-Passenger Seating: Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, Chevy Tahoe Hybrid
• Luxury: Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, Lexus RX 400h

The List of Hybrid SUVs

In addition to gas-electric hybrid SUVs, our sortable list also include diesels and conventional small SUV alternatives—as well as plug-in hybrid and hydrogen SUVs in the works.

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What kind of year has it been for the 2008 Hybrid? GM’s product chief called global warming a “crock of shit.” An eight-cylinder SUV Hybrid won “Green Car of the Year” award. Prius waiting lists returned and then evaporated. Plug-in Hybrid Mania.

The biggest impacts on hybrids in 2008 were macro-economic: roller-coaster swings in oil and gasoline prices—and turmoil in financial markets that dramatically reduced credit and car sales, and left great uncertainty about the future of Detroit automakers.

2008 Hybrid Car Trends

1. Roller-Coaster Supply and Demand for Hybrids

   In the spring of 2008, gas prices skyrocketed and hybrid demand soared. Unfortunately, Toyota, Honda, Ford, and General Motors were all locked into a pattern of limited availability. Waiting lists returned and a big opportunity for the auto industry was missed. Months later, after an economic meltdown and with gas prices below $2 a gallon, waiting lists disappeared and hybrid sales dropped by 50 percent.

2. Small Cars Get Big

   In May, the Honda Civic, a compact car available with either a hybrid or gasoline engine, displaced Ford’s F-series pickup truck as the month’s best-selling vehicle. That marked the first time in 16 years that a passenger sedan—not a truck—was the top-selling vehicle in the United States. Major auto shows throughout the world put small cars in the center stage.

3. Electric Car Fanfare

   General Motors, Chrysler, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Subaru and others unveiled prototypes of electric cars scheduled for mass production in 2010 or 2011. Meanwhile, the highest profile electric car from last year, the Tesla Roadster, barely managed to roll a few production versions out of the factory and threatened to halt its future plans if it didn’t get government support along with the Big Three.

4. Plug-in Hybrids Gain Support

   Al Gore, Andy Grove, John McCain, Barack Obama, the Google Guys, and top execs from Detroit all pointed to the plug-in hybrid as the game-changer for cars, energy, the environment, energy security and the future of American auto workers. General Motors and Toyota fought a war of words over their competing plug-in hybrid designs.

5. Hydrogen “Real-World” Testing Programs

   In June, Honda began production of the FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle with the first vehicle coming off the line. In July, the company issued its first three-year leases for the Clarity to Southern California at $600 per month. GM continued its hydrogen fuel cell testing program, Project Driveway, that began in 2007. Actual production of hydrogen vehicles seems further away than ever.

Top 2008 Hybrid Car Quotes

1. “80 Percent Hybrids by 2020″

   Speaking at the New York Auto Show, GM Product Guru Bob Lutz said, “Ultimately by 2020 we figure that 80 percent of vehicles will require some sort of hybridization [because of new U.S. fuel- economy standards]. We cannot get to 35 miles per gallon with anything resembling the current product portfolio with anything resembling current technology.”

2. “Taxpayer Money for Flex-Fuel Hybrids”

   New York Times columnist Tom Friedman argued that green cars should be central to any Detroit Bailout. He wrote: “Any car company that gets taxpayer money must demonstrate a plan for transforming every vehicle in its fleet to a hybrid-electric engine with flex-fuel capability, so its entire fleet can also run on next generation cellulosic ethanol.”

3. “Green Cars Shouldn’t Be Mandated”

   The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board disagreed with Friedman. Their opinion: “Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi now want to bail out Detroit once more, while mandating that the Big Three build green cars. If consumers really wanted green cars, no mandate would be necessary. Washington here is just marching Detroit deeper into an unsustainable business model, requiring ever more interventions in the future.”

4. “The Chevy Volt Is The Future of America”

   In July, Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain told a crowd of 500 GM autoworkers “The eyes of the world are now on the Chevy Volt. It’s the future of America and the world.” In September, he came under fire from the United Auto Workers for buying a Toyota Prius for his daughter.

5. “Prius Development Paid For by Japanese Government”

   On March 20, Jim Press, Chrysler President, told BusinessWeek, “The Japanese government paid for 100 percent of the development of the battery and hybrid system that went into the Toyota Prius.” When Jim Press was the top executive for Toyota USA, he said that the Japanese government never directly aided the company in the development of the Toyota Prius.

6. “Cars That Run on Green Beans and Soy Milk”

   Peter De Lorenzo, of Autoextremist.com, told a group of auto marketers gathered in Las Vegas, “If you live in Sausalito, and you want to drive a car that runs on green beans and soy milk, hey it’s cool. And if you live in Detroit, and you have a 427 Stingray that you have tucked away in your garage, and you just want to drive it once every couple of weeks, that should be cool too. We have the right to make complete fools of ourselves in this country.”

2008 Hybrid Award Winners

The 2008 V8 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, which won the “Green Car of the Year” award at the L.A. Auto Show, achieves the same city fuel economy as a four-cylinder Toyota Camry.

• Honda Civic GX

  For the fifth year in a row, the Honda Civic GX, which runs on compressed natural gas, was named the “Greenest Vehicle” by The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

• Toyota Prius

  Consumer Reports named the Toyota Prius the green car “Top Pick.”

• Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid

  The 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid was named “Green Car of the Year” at the Los Angeles Auto Show in late 2007.

Biggest 2008 Hybrid News Stories

In September, Honda recycled the Honda Insight name, first introduced in the United States in 1999. The 2010 Honda Insight—with four doors, plenty of room, and a $19,000 price tag—is aimed squarely at Toyota Prius buyers.

1. CEOs Drive to Washington in Hybrids

   The CEOs of the Big Three automakers were blasted by US lawmakers for bringing their tin cups to Washington in corporate jets. They learned their lesson in the value of political symbolism, and made their follow-up trip in hybrid cars—no doubt with tin cups safely nestled in the cupholders.

2. The Reality of Higher CAFE Standards

   In December 2007, Congress approved an increase in Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) to 35 miles per gallon by the year 2020, leaving it to the Bush administration to decide how fast to implement the increases. In April, the Department of Transportation announced an aggressive timetable for fuel economy increases: automakers will be required to raise average fuel efficiency to 31.5 miles per gallon by 2015—thereby deflecting proposals from California and 16 other states that call for fuel economy to reach more than 43 miles per gallon by 2016.

3. Toyota Sells 1,000,000 Hybrids

   On May 15, 2008, Toyota announced that it had sold its millionth Prius worldwide.

4. Return of Honda Insight

   Honda revived the name of the first hybrid gas-electric car introduced in the United States: the Honda Insight. The new Honda Insight, which goes on sale in the US in April 2009, is expected to sell in relatively high quantities. Honda is targeting annual global sales of 200,000 units per year, with approximately 100,000 in North America.

2008 Hybrid Top Sellers

Hybrid salesman could have sold a lot more hybrids in 2008. But the car companies, especially Toyota and Ford, didn’t have nearly enough hybrids to sell. (Photo: Wolfiewolf via flickr/creative commons.)

1. Toyota Prius

   In 2008, Toyota continued to sell more Priuses than all other hybrids combined—despite not receiving a substantial design or technology enhancement since its debut five years ago. Prius waiting lists returned during the gas spike of Spring 2008 because the company couldn’t keep up with demand.

2. Toyota Camry Hybrid

   The Camry hybrid is the second most popular 2008 hybrid—even though Toyota sells fewer than one-quarter as many Camry hybrids as Priuses. Now in its second model year, the Camry Hybrid will face little real competition in the high-mpg family sedan category until the Ford Fusion Hybrid goes on sale in 2009. For the 2008 model, Toyota dropped the price of the Camry hybrid by $1,000.

3. Honda Civic Hybrid

   The 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid continued without any changes since its successful update for the 2006 model year. The 2008 Civic Hybrid continued to move in the shadow of the Toyota Prius—even though it delivered nearly the same mileage for thousands less.

4. Toyota Highlander Hybrid

   For 2008, Toyota completely redesigned the Highlander Hybrid. It offered more refinement and a larger body, while still maintaining the same level of fuel economy as its predecessor. For even greater emphasis on efficiency, Toyota outfitted the Highlander Hybrid with both “EV” and “Econ” driving modes—controllable by dashboard buttons.

5. Lexus RX 400h

   The design of the 2008 Lexus RX400h was mostly unchanged, except for a few new colors, chrome door handles, and minor updates. It was still distinguished from its non-hybrid sibling, the RX 350, by a unique grille and fog lamps—and a premium of about $5,000.

2008 Hybrid Introductions

The V8 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, which achieves the same city fuel economy as a four-cylinder Toyota Camry, can two up to 6,000 pounds.

• Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid

  The Chevy Malibu had its national coming-out party at the 2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in July 2007, but didn’t roll out to dealerships until the beginning of 2008. The The 2008 Malibu Hybrid, which offers a 2-mpg improvement in fuel economy compared to the conventional Malibu, managed about 300 sales per month. The 2009 Malibu Hybrid adds another 2-mpg bump.

• Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid and GMC Yukon Hybrid

  The Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, along with its GMC counterpart, the GMC Yukon Hybrid, were the first vehicles to utilize the advanced two-mode hybrid powertrain developed jointly by BMW, DaimlerChrysler, and General Motors. The full-size SUV launched a new breed of larger hybrids offering V8 performance, towing capacity, and off road capabilities—while reducing fuel consumption to the level of a sedan.

• Chrysler Aspen Hybrid and Dodge Durango Hybrid

  Chrysler followed the release of GM’s Large SUV Hybrids with the release of their own: the 2009 Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen Hybrids. These hulking SUVs pair up a hybrid gas-electric system—the symbol of automotive virtue—with a powerful Hemi engine, which is best known for winning car races. Facing severe financial difficulties, Chrysler shut down the factory that made Aspens and Durangos, thereby killing these two hybrids before the first vehicles arrived to dealerships.

• Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid and GMC Sierra Hybrid

  The GMC Sierra Hybrid pickup, and the Silverado Hybrid, were the first hybrid trucks launched in the United States 2006. With negligible fuel economy improvements of about 2 mpg, the pair of gas-electric trucks were quietly dropped by GM in 2006. It returned in late 2008 with full hybrid versions of the two vehicles—this time offering 40 percent higher city fuel economy compared with the gas versions.

• Cadillac Escalade Hybrid

  The Cadillac Escalade Hybrid became the first luxury SUV available in Extra Large. All the amenities you could expect from a Cadillac; all the capacity to carry eight passengers; and half the fuel consumption. The full hybrid system from General Motors grants the Escalade Hybrid a 50 percent improvement in city fuel economy compared to the gas-powered Cadillac Escalade. Sales averaged about 200 units per month.

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What did we leave out? Please add in the comments. Also: Check out our preview of 2009 Hybrid Cars.

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Table of Contents

Types of Electric Cars:

• Up-and-coming Electric Cars
• Limited Run Editions
• Low-Speed and Three-Wheelers
• Discontinued and Rare Models

Additional Electric Car Resources: – roll out .. one by one.. in the future

• Electric Car Batteries
• About Electric Car Motors & Engines
• Building Electric Cars from Kits
• Electric Car Conversion guides
• Shopping Information and Reviews
• Movie Review: “Who Killed the Electric Car?”




What Is An Electric Car?

An electric car is powered by an electric motor instead of a gasoline engine. The electric motor gets energy from a controller, which regulates the amount of power—based on the driver’s use of an accelerator pedal. The electric car (sometimes called an electric vehicle) uses energy stored in its rechargeable batteries, which are recharged by common household electricity.

Mitsubishi plans to deliver the all-electric iMiEV by 2010.

Unlike a hybrid car—which runs on a combination of gasoline and electricity—an electric car (also known as a battery-electric vehicle or BEV, often shortened to simply EV) is powered exclusively by electricity. Historically, EVs have not been widely adopted because of limited driving range before needing to be recharged, long recharging times, and a lack of commitment by automakers to produce and market electric cars that have all the creature comforts of gas-powered cars. That’s changing. As battery technology improves—simultaneously increasing energy storage and reducing the cost of batteries—major automakers are expected to begin introducing a new generation of electric cars.



There are many variations of passages of Lorem Ipsum available, but the majority have suffered alteration in some form, by injected humour, or randomised words which don’t look even slightly believable. If you are going to use a passage of Lorem Ipsum, you need to be sure there isn’t anything embarrassing hidden in the middle of text.

The Electric Car Runaround: Four Categories

Despite all the recent buzz about gas-free electric cars, car shoppers can’t find a single affordable, highway-capable four-wheel model available at a local dealership. That could change in the next years, as nearly every major carmaker consider bringing an electric car to market. But you’ll need to cut through layers of hype to get discover what’s real and what’s vaporware.

Before putting an electric car on your wish list—it could be a long wait—you should understand the four categories of electric vehicles:

#1 – Up and Coming

The big automakers, and a few others, are talking about new electric vehicle models—but consumers could wait three years or longer before these become a reality. When first introduced, electric cars will roll out in very low quantities. Beware of hype.

#2 – Limited Run

A number of start-up companies have ambitious plans to offer highway-capable four-wheel electric vehicles. Production plans, delivery dates, and final prices are far from certain.

#3 – Fun and Funky

Neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs), three-wheelers, and ultra-expensive models are only for the rich, the brave, and the rich and brave.

#4 – Discontinued and Rare

The last-generation electric vehicles were produced by major automakers, like General Motors and Toyota, just a few years ago. Despite the devotion of EV owners, the car companies destroyed most of those vehicles. They are nearly impossible to find.




Up and Coming Electric Cars

Just as the major car companies were crushing their electric car programs, the perfect storm was brewing on the horizon: Hurricane Katrina, growing acceptance of global warming, runaway Prius sales, oil price spikes, green marketing galore…The major auto companies went right back to the drawing board and emerged with big plans for electric cars early in the next decade.

Mitsubishi iMiEV



Mitsubishi plans to mass-market a small electric vehicle by 2010. The production vehicle will be a derivative of the iMiEV (Mitsubishi in-wheel Electric Vehicle) Sport Concept. The production will likely use a single 47 kW motor and 16 kWh lithium ion batteries—to yield about 75 miles of range and a top speed of 80 miles per hour. The vehicle will be a four-seater with a real usable back seat.

Subaru R1E



The Achilles Heel of electric cars has been the limited range they can travel between charges. The Subaru R1e could help change that. The diminutive two-seater, about 20 inches longer than a Smart ForTwo, has a top speed of 65 miles per hour and a range of 50 miles. More importantly, the time to recharge the 346-volt lithium ion battery pack has been reduced to about 15 minutes. Here’s the hitch: To get the faster charging time, you need a special stationary charger. Using the onboard standard charger puts the electricity refueling time back to about eight hours.

Smart EV



Despite considerable media buzz for Daimler’s Smart ForTwo, microcars have not taken American roads by storm. Perhaps consumers may be more forgiving of the lack of size and power if the Smart is offered with an electric drive. The first models will likely go to Europe in about 2010. Availability in the US is uncertain. The car will provide 70 miles of range and 70 miles per hour on the freeway. Recharge time from 30 to 80 percent capacity is about three and a half hours. The gas version of the Smart ForTwo has earned low marks for handling, especially at higher speeds.

Nissan Cube EV



By most accounts, Nissan missed the boat on hybrids. But the company is determined not to be left out of an electric car renaissance. Nissan’s chief executive, Carlos Ghosn said that the company will be first to market with an entire lineup of zero-emission electric cars. Details of specific vehicles have been sketchy, but Nissan engineers recently displayed an electric vehicle that looked like a large version of its box-shaped Denki Cube (and also announced plans for an all-electric Megane sedan). The production version of the electric vehicle will be introduced in 2010 in Japan, and will roll out to fleets in the US around 2012.

Chevrolet Volt



General Motors insists that the Chevrolet Volt is an “extended-range electric vehicle.” Others say it carries electric motors and a gas-powered engine, so it’s a plug-in hybrid. You say to-may-to, I say to-mah-to… Regardless, the Volt is credited for stirring up the race to electric driving by promising gas-free transportation for 40 miles of driving—well beyond what most Americans travel on a daily basis. The vehicle is slated for introduction in late 2010, with availability only in certain states or cities in the first years. The Volt will be a small, four-door hatchback based on GM’s global small-car architecture. The purchase price will be approximately $40,000.

Also:

The following companies have announced intentions to produce electric vehicles, but have not discussed specific vehicle details: Ford, Toyota, Chrysler, Volkswagen, and Peugeot Citroën.




Limited Run Electric Cars

Not content to follow the slow timelines from the major car companies, a number of entrepreneurs have taken the bold step of building mainstream highway-capable all-electric vehicles. The payoff could be big—but the logistical hurdles, such as federal highway crash testing, are daunting and very expensive. Those costs will get passed on to customers—those that are willing to wait for months or years for innovative companies to roll out models even in small quantities.

Tesla Roadster



The Tesla Roadster is a screaming-fast, all-electric two-seater sports car built on the frame of the Lotus Elise. The specs, if they can be delivered, are impressive: 0 – 60 mph in less than four seconds, 135-mpg equivalent, 200-mile range, and a brilliant tech design that wires together nearly 7,000 mass-commodity rechargeable lithium batteries. The price? Just north of $100,000. Tesla has faced serious technology and corporate hurdles in delivering its first vehicles. Only a few Tesla Roadsters have been shipped so far, but the company plans to expand production to 1,600 annually for 2009 and 2010.

Th!nk City



Th!nk—formerly owned by Ford— could become a leader in the emerging EV market in the United States. The company is on its sixth generation of the Th!nk City, a $28,000 two-seater car with a maximum speed of 65 miles per hour—and a driving range of 125 miles. Recharge time is about four hours. Th!nk City is loaded with all kinds of safety features and creature comforts—as well as a choice of battery leasing plans. If something goes wrong, Th!nk replaces the battery. In July 2008, the company said it was producing cars for the European market at a rate of three to five a day. It’ll be a few years before the vehicle crosses the pond to the US.

Miles XS500



The Miles XS500 is the brainchild of Miles Rubin, a mega-millionaire octogenarian. Rubin spent $35 million of his own money, and he expects to double that figure to get the Miles XS500, a highway-capable car, to market. The Miles XS500, currently under development with an optimistic delivery date in 2009, will top 80 mph and travel approximately 120 miles on a single charge. The batteries take as long as six hours to charge from being depleted halfway—from a 220-volt service. The company is targeting a sales price of $30,000 to $35,000, but the first models hitting European streets, will cost closer to $60,000. The vehicle has yet to undergo federal crash testing. The ground-up vehicle, which looks like a generic four-door sedan, was designed by Pininfarina, legendary Italian car design firm.

Within the Limited Run category, a number of companies are converting existing gas-engine models into electric vehicles:

Phoenix Motorcars SUT (Sport Utility Truck)



Phoenix Motorcars, based in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., begins with an engine-less vehicle supplied by Ssangyong, Korea’s fourth largest automaker. (Ssangyong doesn’t sell cars in the United States). The company adds a 100 kW electric motor system, high-performance motors, generators, controllers, and rechargeable batteries to produce a practical truck that offers a 1,000 pounds of payload capacity, 120 horsepower performance capable of 0-60 mph in less than 10 seconds, and top speeds of 95 mph. Plug the vehicle into a 220-volt outlet for about six hours using the on-board charger to achieve about 130 miles of range. Phoenix Motorcars sells the vehicle for about $45,000. (Word on the street is that Phoenix hasn’t made any deliveries.)

The eBox



Your first stop in buying AC Propulsion’s eBox is a visit to your local Scion dealer to purchase a 5-speed Scion xB wagon, for about $15,000. Or AC Propulsion will coordinate the purchase of an xB near their San Dimas, Calif. headquarters. Then, their engineers will remove the internal combustion engine and related components, and install AC Propulsion’s electric drive and battery system composed of more than 5,000 small cells. The cost of conversion will add another $55,000 to the purchase price. The company expects to build about 20 to 25 eBoxes a year.

Solectria Force



In the early 1990s, the Solectria Corporation of Wilmington, Massachusetts (now Azure Dynamics Corporation), managed to convert about 400 Geo Metros into an electric vehicle called the Solectria “Force.” Top speeds are about 70 mpg, and 13 12-volt lead acid cells provide about 40 miles of range. Solectria Force owners (http://portev.org/solectria/ ) rarely let go of these vehicles.

Also:

Limited runs of the following all-electric sports car are extremely limited: the UEV Spyder, Mullen L1x-75, and the Venturi Fetish, selling for about $75,000, $125,000, and $300,000 respectively.




Low-Speed and Three-Wheel Electric Cars



Caption for Aptera Type 1:

The arduous road to delivering a new highway-speed electric vehicle to the market can be bypassed in two primary ways: limiting the electric vehicle to three wheels (so it can be legally classified as a motorcycle) or limiting the vehicles legal top speed to 25 miles per hour (so it can avoid highway crash testing). Those strategies lower the “barrier to entry,” opening the gates to scores of fledgling companies offering some mighty funky machines. It’s a long list, so we’ll keep our descriptions to a minimum. We’ve also eliminated companies with unusual or questionable business practices, such as Sparks EV, Zap, and Porteon—and products not directly sell in North America, such as British-based G-Wiz EV and Kewet Buddy from Norway.

Aptera



Winner of the funkiest EV design award, the Aptera Type 1, looks like a cross between a motorcycle and ultralight single-occupant airplane. Built near San Diego, and selling for approximately $27,000, the Aptera is competing in the Automotive X Prize competition. Four hundred potential buyers have paid a $500 refundable deposit in anticipation of production in late 2009. The Aptera Type 1 will only be available in California, to allow the company to service the vehicles. A plug-in hybrid version is also being developed.

http://www.aptera.com

Dynasty IT



Dynasty Electric Car Company, formerly based in British Columbia, Canada, offers five different variants of its low-speed electric vehicle, including a sedan, mini pick-up, van and two open-air versions. The “It,” which has a range of about 30 miles and a top speed of about 30 miles per hour, sells for approximately $20,000. In May 2008, the company was purchased by Pakistani automaker Karakoram Motors.

http://www.itiselectric.com

GEM



Global Electric Motorcars (GEM), a Chrysler corporation, is the granddaddy of neighborhood electric vehicle companies. GEM offers approximately six models, ranging in price from about $7,000 to $13,000, and primarily sells to resorts, universities and retirement communities. GEM models aren’t the most exciting, but they’re here now and they work!

http://www.gemcar.com

Kurrent



The Kurrent, an electric car originally designed in Italy, is produced in small quantities by American Electric Vehicle in Ferndale, Michigan. The vehicle uses lead acid batteries to deliver a range of about 40 miles. The company has a few select dealers throughout the country, and also offers home delivery for about $800. Orders can be placed via a toll-free number. The price competes with GEM products at approximately $10,000—but offers more “amenities,” such as windshield wipers, doors, headlights, seatbelts and a trunk.

www.getkurrent.com

Myers NmG



The Myers NmG is a funky, single-occupant three-wheeled electric vehicle made by Myers Motors in Tallmadge, Ohio. The “personal electric vehicle,” which features two wheels in the front and one in the back is $36,000. It uses thirteen 12-volt, lead acid batteries that can be charged through a standard 110-volt outlet. Six to eight hours of charging will carry you approximately 30 miles.

www.myersmotors.com

Tango T600



The Tango T600 electric car, from Commuter Cars in Spokane, Wash., is 102 inches long and only 39 inches wide. In other words, it’s as tall as most conventional cars, not quite as long, but only half the size from side to side. That means driver in front and passenger in back—like a tandem bicycle. The price exceeds $100,000.

www.commutercars.com

VentureOne



The Venture One $20,000 three-wheeled, two-seater tilt-a-whirl motorcycle-car gizmo is expected in 2009. The fully electric version, featuring two in-wheel 20 kW electric motors and a 17 kWh lithium ion battery pack, delivers approximately 120 miles on a single charge. Plug-in hybrid versions are also in the works from Venture Vehicles in Los Angeles.

www.flytheroad.com

ZENN Car



Made in Toronto, Canada, the ZENN is a neighborhood electric vehicle with a range of approximately 35 miles and a full recharge time of 8 to 9 hours from a conventional electrical outlet. A base-level ZENN—no air conditioning or power windows—sells for approximately $16,000. The company has future plans to launch a high-speed model called the cityZENN, offering 80 mph top speed and 250-mile range.

www.zenncars.com




Discontinued and Rare Electric Cars

The most promising recent period for electric vehicles was the 1990s—at least it seemed so at the time. In September 1990, the California Air Resources Board mandated that 2 percent of all new cars sold by major automakers in California would be “zero emission” vehicles by 1998—growing to 10 percent by 2003. That sent automakers scrambling to produce electric vehicles for the mass market. Obviously, things didn’t work out as planned. (See “Who Killed the Electric Car” for details.) Very few units were ever produced, and nearly all of them were destroyed. The remaining units are extremely hard to find and very expensive.

RAV4 EV



From 1997 to 2003, Toyota made approximately 1,500 all-electric versions of its popular RAV4 model. From the outside, the RAV4 EV looks the same as a gasoline version of the vehicle, and has all the versatility of a small utility vehicle. The top speed is approximately 80 miles per hour—with a range of about 100 miles, and a full recharge time of five hours. Most of the vehicles were destroyed, but miraculously, Toyota allowed 328 RAV4 EVs to be sold. The suggested retail price, at the time, was $42,000. A rare used RAV4 EV can sell these days for $70,000 or more.

EV1



Time Magazine named it one of the 50 worst cars of all time, but the customers who leased the EV1 had a quasi-religious devotion to the zippy two-seater. General Motors made fewer than 1,000 EV1s by the time the company canceled production, claiming that demand was too limited for a two-seater with a range of about 120 miles, and a recharge time of approximately eight hours. GM crushed nearly every single EV1, so even its biggest devotees cannot find a used EV1 to purchase.

Honda EV Plus



The Honda EV Plus was a two-door model, but could seat four. Driving range was approximately 100 miles. Only about 300 EV Plus units were made and sold—and the purchase price was a hefty $53,000. Most were destroyed, leaving a non-existent market for the vehicle.

Ford Electric Ranger



Ford produced the Electric Ranger from 1998 to 2002. Most of the 1,500 units were leased to fleets, although a handful of vehicles were sold to individuals. Nearly all leases were terminated between 2003 and 2005. Ford made a few Ford Electric Rangers using nickel metal hydride batteries, which yielded 65 miles in range. Most used lead acid batteries, with a more limited range. The rare used Ford Electric Ranger has appears on eBay for anywhere between $10,000 and $25,000.

Nissan Altra



The Nissan Altra was produced between 1998 and 2002—although only about 200 vehicles were made. By appearances, the Nissan Altra EV looked like a regular mid-sized station wagon. The Altra offered ample cargo room and numerous amenities, such as power mirrors and windows, keyless entry, and four-wheel anti-lock brakes. Top speed for the Nissan Altra was 80 mph, and it could travel about 100 miles between charges.

Chevrolet S-10 Electric



Fewer than 500 Chevy S10 Electric vehicles were produced. Range was 90 miles. Most were leased to fleets (and subsequently destroyed), but approximately 60 were sold and could appear in auctions. (Photo by Mike Weston.)

Chrysler Epic Electric Minivan



Chrysler released the all-electric no-frills Chrysler Epic minivan in 1998. The acronym EPIC stands for Electric Powered Interurban Commuter. Driving range was approximately 80 miles, with recharge times of four to five hours. Performance was modest, with a 0 – 60 mph time of 16 seconds.

Did we miss a crucial electric vehicle? Are our facts straight? Let us know so we can keep this page complete and up-to-date. Thanks.



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