From natural gas to hybrid cars to all-electric vehicles, or EVs, U.S. automakers have tried every way possible to create a vehicle that runs on alternative energy. Now may be the best time in history to actually get these vehicles up and running. Or get the drivers up and running – to the local ell-electric dealer.
There are, in fact, more automakers (and not all are U.S.-based) willing to offer vehicles powered by alternative energy than ever before, and it seems that the energy that they may settle on is all-electric. Or is this just false hope?
Here’s a list of some of the manufacturers who have rolled out all-electric vehicles in just the past couple of years:
- General Motors – The 2011 Chevy Volt comes with an 8-year, 100,000-mile warranty.
- Liberty – The manufacturer got its start in 2007, but introduced the all-electric Range Rover SUV in 2010. However, they’ve improved on it in 2011.
- Mitsubishi – The i-MiEV isn’t the most attractive vehicle on the road, but it is one of the less expensive all-electric vehicle options.
- Tesla – You just have to see the Tesla Roadster. You’d be surprised it’s all electric.
- Toyota – Toyota has not done well selling its hybrids so it has partnered up with Tesla to produce all-electric vehicles. None have hit the market yet, but the company plans to introduce all-electric vehicles outside its Tesla partnership in 2012.
- Nissan – Nissan got in on the all-electric market early with the LEAF.
- Smart – You know those funny-looking European cars? They now have a scooter equivalent that will be powered by all-electric energy.
- Citroen – The French automaker has its own sports car powered electrically.
- Luxgen – Even Taiwan automaker Luxgen is going electric with the Luxgen 7 all-electric MPV.
- Volkswagen – Look for it in 2013.
- Th!nk – A Norwegian company with an American division. Think Ox will hit the streets soon.
- Electric City Motors – Manufactures the all-electric vehicle the Current.
- Chrysler – Chrysler created an entire division for all-electric production: ENVI.
With so many traditional automakers introducing all-electric vehicles, you’d think this was a big market to tap. The current political and social landscape in the U.S. makes me think it is. Al Gore preached about the evils of the internal combustion engine and he was laughed off the planet, but now it seems that all the auto manufacturers that are worth a darn are singing his praises. Maybe not literally, but figuratively in the act of rolling out their all-electric creations.
General Electric has manufactured a charger for the vehicles. Nissan and Chevrolet are fighting over a passing gear. And Nissan offers further encouragement by offering to plant a tree on your behalf.
Clearly fuel and energy alternatives are here and making their footprint. Like the days of Cable vs. DSL, the alternatives are battling things out for a shot at mainstream.
