Technology

Out of all things to which electric cars aspire – fighting record oil prices, combating global warming, reducing dependency on imported oil – getting a date was a surprising reason uncovered by The Wall Street Journal.

Have electric cars finally become cool? For nearly 100 years electric cars have been derided from the internal combustion automotive circles because they could not match the performance of gas-powered cars. Though history has shown little concern over environmental performance, it seems that high gas prices are finally tipping the scales towards the electric car.

HELENA, MT -- Aug 1, 2008 -- Montana officials announced that a city-speed electric truck from California manufacturer ZAP (OTC BB:ZAAP.OB) has been purchased by the Montana State Hospital at Warm Springs.

Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, with wife Nancy and Border Collie Jag, first learned about the ZAP Xebra truck and sedan at the Fourth of July Parade in Butte this year.

ROME, GA -- Jul 29, 2008 -- Former Pirelli Tire North America president and CEO Gaetano "Guy" Mannino, after a lifetime of association with the auto industry, is speaking out about electric car technologies and his recent business venture with ZAP (OTC BB:ZAAP.OB).

Mannino's company, Verdek, has agreed to be the distributor for ZAP in the state of Georgia, where Mannino's business is headquartered. However, in an interview this week with www.CEONEWS.tv, Mannino talks about his plans for ZAP in the US and abroad.

ZAP Xebra Electric Sedan
CNN did a round up of 5 electric cars that are available right now in the US. The five vehicles are an interesting selection, because if you look on the Internet it seems every car company has an electric car that they are already selling or that will come out over the next few years. So which is it? Are these the only five electric cars available right now? Or did CNN leave out a host of other vehicles?