With the move to electric cars, new companies are taking advantage of this unique time in the automotive industry to take on the big boys. We found five new electric cars that are or will be drivable on all U.S. roads.
Tesla is well known among electric car fans and the public at large. The company has been successful in designing and selling its electric sports car, which boasts exceptional acceleration, handling, and range--which are not attributes that usually find in production electric car.
The Fetish is a limited edition electric sports car made by Venturi, in Monaco. Venturi only plans to build 25 of these cars, and is selling them for about $400,000. The vehicle's performance specifications are similar to the Tesla Roadster, although with slower acceleration.
With its unique design, the Aptera 2e has gained many fans on the Internet. Aptera hopes to put the vehicle into production next year. This two seater is designed as a commuter car with a top speed of 85 mph and a range of about 100 miles.
One of the less conventional electric cars, the tandem seat Tango's odd proportions make it look as if it has been squashed. But the company points out that, with acceleration to 60 mph in 4 seconds, it is the world's fastest urban car. The Tango uses a lithium ion battery pack and has a range of more than 200 miles.
Coda hopes to market its all electric sedan in 2010. With a range of about 100 miles and top speed of 80 mph, the Coda Sedan is intended for commuting and in-town errands. The company initially plans to build 2,000 of these cars, and can ramp up to 20,000 units if demand dictates.
