Chrysler, whilst the company has recently revealed it’s electric car production plans, as previously stated in one of my other posts, the plans have been pushed forward! It is apparent that Chrysler is now going to exhibit a line of prototype electric cars as soon as next week.

The company is focusing more on their business strategies in their show to dealers of Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler. The exhibition will take place via videoconference across over 100 movie theaters all around the U.S.A. This will pull Chrysler to the front in the run up to 2010, when most of the new electric cars are released from all of the biggest companies, and some of the older ‘pioneers’ of the electric car.

This new line of electric cars has been hailed as the new generation of electric cars. As they are just some more plug-in hybrids, they are not the most environmentally friendly cars, although they are very technologically advanced…watch this space!!!

Everyone is hearing the buzz around the new Chevrolet Volt. Countless news articles have been written about it, it is mentioned in dozens of blogs etc, but how good is it? Nobody seems to want to make any comments on how good the fuel economy is.

Stepping back slightly, for those who don’t know, the Chevrolet Volt is the newest offering from the motoring industry giants, GM. The Volt is powered by a Lithium-Ion battery combined with an internal combustion engine. Whilst the car is a plug-in hybrid, the combustion engine does still charge the battery.

It is always good news when a motor company embarks on an electric venture, but companies cannot seem to move out of the hybrid shadow. Each year companies reveal plans for new hybrids. Hybrids, hybrids hybrids, when are we going to hear the news of a fully electric powered Volt that can reach speeds of up to 150mph and only needs recharging every 100 miles. Well, for the time being, the technology has not yet been adapted.

Coming back to the Volt, set to arrive in 2010, the combustion engine does have a reasonable fuel economy, although the Toyota alternative, which has been available for some time now, has a better fuel economy. It just seems like GM are having some troubles trying to move away from their usual muscle cars, so they need a more powerful engine, with a less than amazing fuel economy rating.

Everybody knows that electric cars, although they are reasonably inexpensive to run, they are not cheap to build on a mass scale. Chrysler has shocked the motor industry (in a good way), by pitching the idea to the government that they should offer loans to electric car manufacturers. The estimated ’starting loan’ would have to be somewhere in the region of $25 billion! This would be split up and shared between several different car companies, which would be monitored to see how they are spending the money.

The request came shortly after the American government said they would actively encourage manufacturers that wish to move into the electric car market. It seems like the reason these loans have been refused in the past was because they were simply asking for too much. The initial request from detroit electric car manufacturers was $50 billion. Chrysler have halved the amount, and results look promising, as some high ranking politicians are already backing the idea.

Chrysler is somewhat lagging behind in the electric car race, although some press sources have said that Chrysler plan to manufacture and release an electric car within three to five years. This new loan request could be seen as a ‘jealousy’ bid to try to beat Chevrolet, before they release the ‘Volt’ in 2010. Who knows, however, it does seem like an excellent idea, on paper.

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.