The new Elettrica electric car is not for those with a ‘need for speed’. It has a top speed of only 45mph, so it is designed mainly for town or inner city driving. It only needs charging for five hours, giving it a drive range of up to 65 miles.

The car is relatively cheap as far as electric cars go. It costs just £12,750RRP. The Elettrica has only been released on the U.K. market at the moment, but is set to hit U.S. soil in early 2009. The cost is likely to be somewhere around $20,000RRP.

The Elettrica electric car is only really suitable for those that live in a city and do not travel outside much. It’s mileage is very limiting (65 miles) so it is not worth buying unless you stick to a short distance.

The car is, however, incredibly economical and cost effective. If you do just drive to the local stores and back, it is the car for you. It has a very unusual, yet somewhat attractive design that will turn heads wherever you go. You can rest assured that the Elettrica has zero CO2 emissions, and even the recharging will not increase your electricity bill by much.

Currently in the U.K. the car is exempt from road tax, congestion charges and receives free parking in state owned car parks. Once the car is released on to the U.S. market, similar incentives are going to be implemented, so you can save money in more ways than just on gas!

Paul Niedermeyer of TheTruthAboutCars.com wrote and interesting and harsh review of the Zap Xebra.

“”Once I squeezed myself into the Xebra pick-up, I had to contort my legs to operate the two pedals located on the left side of the steering column. As I turned into traffic, I was overwhelmed by the sensation that I’ve just committed a youthful prank– stealing one of those electric garbage-can haulers from a convention center. And I’m having doubts whether I’m going to be able to outrun the security guard running after me.”

He says the vehicle is not functional, it’s too slow, it’s uncomfortable, and the design requires more work.

No matter what his opinion is, mechanics and other well known organizations have named the Zap Xebra one of the most impressive new cars of the day.