We have all heard the news . . . electric powered cars are coming. But when will they be made available? Will we be able to use this technology for highway driving purposes, or will it be strictly for neighborhood trips? Will the price of the new technology be beyond the means of the average American?

For a number of years we have all held onto our hopes and dreams, that one day electric cars would be available and used by everyone. We look forward to a day when we can cut our umbilical cord from Big Oil, while doing our part to save the planet and the environment. And, although the gasoline-powered, internal combustion engines have served our society for a little over a century, we realize that the time have come for a dramatic change.

Thanks to the latest technology, fully functional, electric-powered vehicles are just around the corner. Smaller vehicles, such as electric-powered golf carts, meter-maid style trucks, and some ATVs have been owned and operated by individuals, government entities, and organizations. However, they do not go for more than around 30 miles between charges, at best. A few, extraordinarily expensive vehicles are driven on the road today which are indeed fully electric, and do perform at the desired level and consistency. In both cases, the average driver is left out of the picture.

There is a remarkable shift in the automotive marketplace today in favor of electric cars, partly spurred by the growing concerns and scientifically-based warnings about the global warming epidemic. Experts in global warming point to gasoline-powered vehicles as the primary source of the problem, therefore, it is imperative that a new mode of transportation be developed as soon as possible.

Hybrid cars are the latest step in right direction. Hybrid electric vehicles use both an electric motor and a gas-powered engine, which in turn increases the total mileage per gallon of gas. A rapid advancement in the hybrid technology will soon cause the price of these vehicles to drop, making them more widely accessible to the general public.

Although there are a large number of Neighborhood Electric Vehicles on the roads today, which are also known as NEVs, they are nowhere near the driving capacity, performance, or passenger ranges of the average consumer. NEVs, although legal to drive on the road, as basically a souped up golf cart, and will travel at a mind-blowing speed of 25 mph. Only a few dozen highway-capable electric vehicles are scattered across the nation, such as the Tesla Motors Roadster, the Phoenix Motorcars SUV, and the Myers Motors NmG (which stands for No More Gas).

A number of other car companies are closing in on the Electric Vehicle technology of the future. While the big manufacturers, such as GM and Ford, focus their time and attention on the latest hybrid vehicles, companies such as Commuter Cars Corporation, Wrightspeed, Zap, and Zenn Motor companies each offer current vehicles which are literally on the cutting edge of technology.

Anyone who simply cannot wait another day to own an electric vehicle can purchase one, but they should expect a hefty price. The Tesla Roadster, for example, is priced just over $100,000. Individuals who want a small commuter vehicle with an intended range of about 20 to 25 miles per charge, and who intend to drive in 35 mph or lower speed zone areas, one of the economical NEVs may be just what they are looking for.

When can we see electric cars in every driveway in America? Soon. How soon? That is the question we wish we could answer!