Who killed the electric car?
In the upcoming film Who killed the electric car, we learn about General Motors' attempt to launch an environmentally friendly electric car called the EV-1 in California. Although electric cars have not taken off as much as initially hoped, there's still a spark left in the electric car.
New all electric vehicles, like the sporty Tesla roadster (pictured), are arriving on the scene, overcoming many of the hurdles that previous initiatives faced.
The Tesla Roadster is an all-electric car that is available in the U.S. It goes from 0-60 miles per hour in around 4 seconds and does 250 miles per charge.
© Tesla Motors
But that's not all. The technologies used have found their way into hybrid cars, which combine electric motors with gasoline engines to reduce fuel use and emissions by 40% or more. In Australia, the Toyota Prius, the Honda Civic Hybrid, or the luxury sedan Lexus GS450h are currently available, with new models hitting the road every year.
While not an option for everyone, if you are in the market for a car consider switching to a hybrid or high-efficiency diesel. Even though these cars may be more expensive up-front than non-hybrid models, the money you save on fuel adds up over the life of the car. And with petrol prices likely to increase in the future, you're likely to save even more.
If you need a small vehicle for short trips without carrying a load (like going to and from work if you live close), consider a zippy electric scooter instead.
But even if a hybrid or electric vehicle isn't for you, there are still many ways you can save $$ and reduce our environmental impact when getting from A to B.
