Using electricity to run your car in the same way you do your hair dryer or your television seems odd at first, until you realize just how practical a solution to our energy crisis it can be. For one thing, it only costs around 2 cents per mile to drive an electric car. These vehicles are almost completely noiseless, produce no tailpipe emissions, and can be recharged during the night at a time when power plants are under-utilized. While there are some emissions created at the production level of electricity, the entire amount is still less than ten percent of that which is produced by a normal petroleum-based combustion engine.

It is true that battery technology has a long way to go to be able to compete with the performance of the gasoline powered engines, but to be fair there hasn’t been a whole lot of time, money or energy into developing this technology. As demand for these cars grows, manufacturers will be on a competitive course to bring the consistently public better technology.

At this point, purely electric cars still have a limited range of around 100 miles before their battery requires recharging. These vehicles rarely go at high speeds, and they are extremely compact. However, if the majority of your driving is around town, these vehicles can be an excellent option. They are clean, small, and easy to maintain. Families wishing to purchase a second car would do well to consider one of the latest models in electric cars to supplement their driving needs.

Another option is the hybrid petrol/electric cars that are gaining in popularity. The Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight are two popular hybrids that have an enormous following in the U.S. now and a great reputation not only for fuel efficiency, but for performance as well. A hybrid vehicle combines a traditional petrol combustion engine with a rechargeable battery to drastically increase fuel efficiency, reduce emissions, and drive further and faster than would be possible with just an electric motor alone.

The biggest environmental challenge to electricity as a fuel source is that the majority of our electricity is still being created using non-renewable resources, such as coal. As more and more people begin to analyze the changes that have to occur in our society as a result of our energy crisis, we will see amazing new developments in technology, manufacturing, and energy production.