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Article #122: Driving Green, Riding High-Speed

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When one thinks of electric car or Though the waiting lists are lengthy,
hybrid, speed may probably be the last prices soaring and the chance of having
thing that comes to his mind. But this one is elusive and they are still easy to
may be the thing of the past. Nowadays, own than supercars in the past. The
eco-friendly cars could make enthusiasts present day supercars are close to
forget about sacrifice and enjoy more handcrafted but not even close to just
mileage, more power and also more credit equipping them with good GMC cold air
for saving the pathetic earth. intake, engine, brakes and suspension.
Green cars are now engineered to bring Greg Lane, the vice president of
out an all-new level of power and California's Universal Electric Vehicles,
performance. The first speeding ticket in sees a promise in small, upstart
the United States could be traced back in companies like his. He says that large
1904 when a hybrid vehicle with a manufacturers with almost 100 years of
gasoline engine and a battery pack was history entwined with oil companies still
introduced to the industry. The early predominantly focus on gasoline for
proof of blending high performance and propulsion - maybe just using less of it.
environment friendliness was delivered by "Their idea of an electric car is still
Harry Myers of Dayton, Ohio, who was primarily a hybrid," Lane said, "not 100
ticketed for going 12 mph. Critics concur percent electric," like his company's
to the fact that both features need not Spyder model.
be forever exclusive like they were Rick Woodbury of Commuter Cars, the
centuries ago. They could be blended Spokane, Wash., the maker of the
pretty fine. super-narrow, electric Tango T600, finds
Over 700,000 hybrid, diesel and ethanol that just a few minutes of video is all
vehicles were sold in the first half of it takes to dispel the perception that
the previous year. And most of the electric cars are stodgy. "People see our
vehicles do not have that jaw-breaking car burning rubber in fifth gear, leaving
performance for those who crave the a 50-yard streak on the pavement," he
rugged kind of speed. Moreover, the said. "When they see smoke, they
demand for high-performing eco-cars grows believe."
more intense than before. "Alternative For propulsion, most of the eco-supercars
fuel performance cars let people know use electricity. Battery life remains the
that the status quo is no longer a golf biggest hurdle in developing electric
cart," said Ron Freund, the chairman of cars, just as it is for laptops and cell
the Electric Auto Association, which has phones. Few people are willing to drive a
chapters in 41 states. performance car that can rarely exceed a
Darryl Siry, the vice president of range of 250 miles on the latest lithium
marketing for electric car company Tesla ion batteries.
Motors, said that concerns about gas "There's always the expectation of a
prices and global warming, combined with breakthrough in battery technology," said
improved technologies, have precipitated Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green
booming interest in green cars that go Car Journal and contributor to Despite
fast. "It's like a perfect storm," Siry well-funded research, electric vehicles
said. Toyota, for one, is recognizing the are still too expensive for even limited
rising trend hence the introduction of mass production, largely because of their
the 2007 Lexus GS 450h and the Toyota batteries. The current challenge is how
FT-HS. Honda also unveiled its to make electric vehicles affordable,
high-performance Small Hybrid Sports car said Cogan. "You can't make a cheap
to go with the recent flow. electric car, but you can make a
Green supercars are now easy to acquire. wonderful electric car," he said.






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