Pulling the Plug on Gas-Guzzlers

Lance Armstrong is getting a new set of wheels. The zero-emissions Nissan Leaf electric car will be available for purchase in December, and the Tour de France champion will be its official spokesperson.

The Leaf runs on a 23 kilowatt-hour lithium-manganese battery and eliminates gasoline usage, allowing up to five passengers to travel for 100 miles between charges.

But what if you’re planning on traveling more than 100 miles in a day? Nissan’s website assures us that the vehicle’s navigation system displays the nearest charging locations. However, taking a cross-country trip in one of these cars may be a risky plan until charging locations become more widespread.

The luxury car makers are getting in on the green too; the electric version of Mercedes-Benz’s Blue Zero, which will be released in two years, will be capable of traveling up to 124 miles on a single charge.

While there are some challenges to owning an electric car (fully charging the car takes eight hours and it can be difficult to find a suitable repair shop in some areas), most of these issues will likely get resolved as more consumers buy electric cars and the industry continues to develop.

Will you be one of the early adopters?

--Kristin Baldwin