It's hard not to get excited about electric vehicles. If it wasn't for a reality check, electric car devotee would have you believe that these 'green machines' are the future of cheap, low emission, easy-to-service mass transportation. But is it really the case? Perhaps the answer lies more with the one seat alternative.
The critical problem with electric vehicles is that they are not necessarily the low-cost saviours we imagined them to be. For a start, most car electric cars cost much more than regular vehicles because of poor battery technology.
While Tesla might produce one of the world's most desired electric vehicles, it's also among the world's most expensive; retailing at $US80,000 (down from $US140 000 two years ago) across showrooms in California and hardly the world's answer to sustainable mass transport.
Then there's the oft-talked about answer to GM's recent woes: the Chevy Volt. Yet for it to be a true game winner, the car needs to be priced within the reach of the average car-buyer. And with an expected retail price of $US39,000, the Chevy Volt is just too electric for most purse strings. It's already considered by some electric car pundits as the 'elephant in the room'.
Another reality check: the price of the Japanese Mitsubishi I-miEV? $US45,660. Another price loser. As for hybrids, they too are often priced expensively. Toyota's new Prius IV retails for around $US27,000. You'd have to drive it for at least 20 odd years to see some return on your investment over a traditional petrol vehicle.
No wonder some people are turning to two wheels.
The average electric motorcycle battery can give riders huge mile per charge distances over their car counterparts and even though it's only early days for development, more brands are joined the battery-powered ranks.
Motorcycle battery packs are smaller, lighter and therefore cost much less to produce than automobiles.
There are also numerous home conversion kits available online, and a growing fleet of garages set up in the US that now specialise in the low-cost conversions of our traditional oil guzzlers into electric motorcycles.
Brammo's latest electric bike, the aptly named Enertia, features top of the line road electrics with a 13.7Hp motor and 31 ft/lbs of torque for a 50 mile top speed. At $US12,000, it might be considered expensive for a regular petrol bike, but it's not bad when you compare it to the price of electric cars.
Similarly, the Zero S Electric from California manages a powerful 17Hp engine with 60 ft/lbs of torque. Riders describe the silent electric ride as slightly unnerving at first.
As for battery upgrades, the Zero S features an easy to modify battery; old batteries can replaced with new ones in just a few minutes. Initiatives such as Better world are already looking at developing battery swap bays for our future electric vechiles, rendering the whole 'old battery' argument mute.
Other electric bike contenders include Vetrix electrics VX-1, Extremegreen's X-ride ($US3000) and the Swiss made Quantya dirt bikes.
The Japanese are also developing a unique array of hybrid style bikes:
Each bike varies in price, but all promise an electric plug and go future. The bikes are catching on in sport too: Electric motorcycle races are now being held on the Isle of Mann.
It's not just for motorcycle riders; electric bicycles are quietly catching on and have done so over the last decade. After your pedal power gives in, electric motors can carry a tired load up steep hills and are quick to recharge after a long day commuting.
Best Buy in the US are said to be one of the first mass retailers that will carry many of these 'hybrid' bikes for sale: neither bicycle nor motorcycle - they sit somewhere in the middle and offer a cleaner ride at a lower price point than either motorbike or car.
In the short term, these bikes may well turn out to be our best bet for mass electric transportation - especially, if battery technologies don't improve in the near future.
With the global recession raring forward, the electric car is for now, still a concept dream for all but the wealthiest early adopters.
Perhaps the answer is staring us boldly in the face. Maybe all we need to do is combine the car with the motorcycle to ensure the best of our electric driving future. However, the results are still a little mixed.