Stephen Rees's blog

Electric cars : Economist.com
High-tech entrepreneurs unveil a sporty electric car

Timely, given the release of “Who killed the electric car” and certainly not without precedent. “The Economist” fails to mention the legions of enthusiasts who have been building their own electric cars for years. Converting pick-up trucks seemed to be the most common. Then there is that firm on Annacis Island, the Dynasty Electric Car Corp that builds a “low speed vehicle”.

Yes, you need a sports car to get news coverage. The GM electric was very sporty too. But something like the Smart car still seems to me to be the way to go. Better than a golf cart, but ideal for those short trips around town. A vast number of urban trips really are very short – but are a function of the way that land uses are divided into exclusive zones. In the suburbs it is (mostly) too far to walk to the shops. About the only other use accepted in residential zones is a school – or park (usually both). It will take forever to get this changed – so we need some better way of getting about. The bike will do for a lot of journeys, but the rate of adoption is slow. Produce a cheap, no emission urban run about and you can keep your monster as a collector’s item.