Interested in dropping your support for funding oil executive vacations in Monaco, drilling in wilderness areas, and Saudi Arabian misogyny? Want to stop pumping CO2 into the atmosphere, while still making your way to work without standing in the armpit of a man who hasn't bathed since Shrove Tuesday? Friend, have I got some options for you!
You can cut back on your oil consumption; cut way, way back; or cut it out completely.
Come on over to the lot and let me show you some of these little beauties.
Where to start? How about gas-powered vehicles that get the job done with a lot less gas? Of course, everyone's aware of Toyota's second generation
Prius, the 60MPG hybrid wondercar with a waiting list longer than the menu at a Chinese restaurant.
If you've been scared off the Prius by stories claiming that the mileage is not as good as claimed, don't be. Yours truly can affirm that the Silver Slipper managed 50+mpg on it's first tank full right out of the showroom. Production on the vehicle is going up, and you might find it easier to lay your hands on this object of techno-lust than you think. (If nothing else, let me know and I'll slip you the name of a little country dealer with a list measured in weeks.) If you've got stop and go traffic, or sluggish highway movement, the Prius
loves it. If the ordinary Prius isn't enough for you, visit the folks at
Coastal Tech and put in an electric only mode that lets you play stealth bomber for a mile or two (which is about all the batteries will support).
Looking for something just as gas friendly, but willing to sacrifice a little size. How about a lot of size? How about going for something that makes a Mini look like a Maxi? A car so short you can park it nose in to a parallel parking spot. A car so cute it makes Audi TT's shiver in fear, the SmartCar.
The SmartCar has been available in Europe for some time, but it's now been brought to the US, completely street legal and ready to play, by importer and electric vehicle fans Zap!. Like the Prius, this car gets an estimated 60MPG, but it does it without an electric motor. It does it without any fancy hybrid tricks. It does it... by being puny. But it's cute, friend. Tarnation, it's cute. That cuteness is going to cost you, though. Zap has spent a small fortune getting the cars tricked out for the American market and passing EPA and safety tests. The first batch is going out at $20,000 dealer cost. I love these little fellers, but I think you might wait a tick or two to see if that price doesn't have a little "early adopter tax" built into it.
Want to get more than 60 MPG? Now you're moving into some pretty rarified air. The old soldier of this here division is Honda's venerable hybrid, Insight. This 2-seater has a space age charm all its own. It looks like it could be the land cruiser for Buck Rogers (or at least, Twiki).
At 66 MPG highway, and 670 miles to a tank, there's no gas-burner in the US that can top the Insight. If you're looking to get into a high mileage vehicle at a bargain price, this may well be your car. Despite the long line for less radical hybrids, the Insight has been a slow seller this winter and dealers are dealing. Rumor is that Honda may end this model, so jump onboard now. Come on, nothing else is going to give you the pure power of Self Righteous Injection like an Insight.
If you're ready to get extreme, take your stock Prius and get ready to kiss that warranty bye bye. The folks over at CalCars can show you how to change your plain vanilla hybrid into a plug in hybrid, allowing you to recharge your car from the grid and up your electric driving range to around 20 miles. With most trips falling under that range, you might find your ultimate mileage rising to 100 MPG or more with this nifty mod. (Eh, did I mention that it was going to cost you? And that your Toyota dealer will never want your modded out vehicle to blacken their service department again? Okay.)
100MPG still not enough for you? You say you're ready to go all the way, exorcize the Demon Exxon, kick Dick Cheney where it hurts, and sail past the pump for the rest of your days? Then buddy, you might just be ready for a Vectrix.
The Vectrix is a new electric scooter, though scooter doesn't seem quite the right word for a vehicle that does 0-50 in 6.8 seconds and cruises down the highway at 62. The Vectrix is highway capable, and best of all, it's completely electric. You can make 68 miles on a single charge of the Vectrix battery pack, meaning that most commutes fall into this little jewel's sweet spot. Best of all, with an expected US price on the low side of $4000, this baby makes sense as a "sunny day" commuter. Personally, I think the Vectrix is just plumb beauteous. I'm in line to get one already.
Next time around, I'll give you some pointers on the vehicles that are on their way to market soon, including some plug in hybrids from sources that don't disown them, some new all electric vehicles, and a fuel cell version of my friend the Vectrix.
Oh, and before someone else mentions it - just get a bike, why don't you? You can't all be ancient, fat, lazy, slobs like me.