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