Common Ground: Plug it In, Plug it In

May 2007 | Green Scene

Plug it In, Plug it In

Your guide to the current electric car craze

By Damien Somerset

Lately it seems like you can’t go a day without hearing a story about some revolutionary electric vehicle (EV) technology that will change the way you drive. But is all this focus on the world of the future just fantasy? “We know it’s possible,” says Chelsea Sexton, a key participant in the Oscar nominated documentary Who Killed the Electric Car? “We go to auto shows every year and see these awesome concept cars that we know will never be in our showrooms.” So what kind of car can the EV-curious Jane or Joe actually find on the market today?

Exotic EVs currently available, like the $100K Tesla Roadster, the $540K Venturi Fetish, and the $108K prototype Tango, will not make much of a dent in the average consumer market, but will make a substantially large dent in your wallet. To have a real environmental impact, however, electric vehicles must be more reasonably priced

EVs available can be broken down into three categories: performance, standard and neighborhood (NEV). Standard EVs generally function like an average car, but selections in this category are currently few. Phoenix Motors has developed an electric SUV that costs $45K and charges in ten minutes on an industrial charger. Another option is the Smart EV, also $45K and a conversion of the cute European Smart ForTwo.

You can convert most conventional cars yourself with the aid of companies like Left Coast Electric in Los Angeles or MC Electric Vehicles in Seattle. Chicago’s Fox Valley Electric Auto Assoc., San Francisco’s Electric Vehicle Assoc. and Washington’s Green Car Company are also great starting places when looking for resources. But doing a conversion isn’t cheap. Expect to pay between $10K-30K, in addition to the cost of the car. Also, keep in mind while almost any car can be custom-converted, currently smaller and lighter models work best. Many of the heavier models will have to wait for the lighter battery technology, coming out later this year. On the bright side, Zap! — Zero Air Pollution — a company that distributes advanced technology vehicles, has plans to sell several different standard EVs in the near future; the perky Obvio 828E from Brazil and the ZAP-X designed by Lotus will be welcome additions to the current American EV lineup.

Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEV) are small cars with a limited speed (usually 25-35mph), with a limited range depending on the battery used (typically 30-50 miles per charge). There are many more options in this category: cars like the 3-wheeled Zap! Xebra, the golf cart-esque GEM e2, the Dynasty IT, which looks like a toy version of a Volkswagon Bug, and the ZENN, the NEV that most resembles a regular compact car. These cars are priced from $9K to $17K.

But why so pokey? NEVs typically do not have many safety standards, so most states limit their speed to 25mph. However, some states are looking to lighten up these restrictions — and surprisingly, it’s not alt-energy concerned California leading the charge. Washington State is considering a first-of-its-kind bill to raise the NEV speed limit to 35mph. “80 percent of daily trips people take are only within 10 miles of their home, but most city speed limits are 30-35 mph,” says Greg Rock of Kirkland, Washington’s Green Car Company. “This new law will raise speed limits to acceptable city standards, and we are certainly expecting to see an increase in interest for city electric vehicles.”

“It is not that you want to go faster,” adds Steve Mayeda of MC Electric Vehicles in Seattle, a proponent behind the new NEV bill. “It is just that you want to keep up with everyone. We think the 10 mph increase will have a huge impact on the NEV market. You’ll feel safe, and you are not polluting.” (Visit HouseBill1820.com for more info.)

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