Well, do you prefer forest green, or is chartreuse more your speed? Just kidding! A “green car” has already existed, and more are in the works. From electric, to hydrogen, to fuel cell, there are many ‘green’ or at least ‘greener’ vehicles in various stages of development. In this article, electric cars will be the focus.

General Motors has been at the forefront in manufacturing and marketing a truly green car. Ever heard of the EV1? I didn’t think so – most folks haven’t. It was the first modern electric vehicle from a major automaker.

Electric cars are not new. Robert Anderson of Scotland invented the first electric car – basically a horseless carriage – around 1835. Other electric cars were soon to follow. In 1900, more electric cars were sold in the U.S. than any other type. But with more roads being built, the discovery of Texas crude oil (which made gasoline cheaper), and the desire to travel longer distances, gas-powered automobiles quickly outnumbered electric cars.

The internal combustion engine, mass-produced by Henry Ford, made owning a vehicle much more affordable. Electric autos in the early 1900s were limited in range because the batteries were not rechargeable, and had to be completely replaced, whereas the gas tank of a combustion engine could easily be refilled. The technology to produce rechargeable batteries, though in development, had not caught up with demand.

The technology for producing longer-life, quickly rechargeable batteries is still lagging behind demand. GM abandoned the EV1, introduced in 1997, after only six years. Although the EV1 was well-received and demand for the vehicles was growing, GM was convinced that the car would never be profitable. So they recalled and destroyed them, to the dismay of the people leasing them. GM blamed battery issues for the vehicle’s demise.

But GM has not given up on electric cars. They recently announced a new concept car named the Chevy Volt (www.chevrolet.com/electriccar) which they estimate will be available toward the end of 2010. Electric car … Volt, gotta love it!  What makes the Volt unique is its Lithium-ion battery plug-in system and E-Flex drivetrain, which provides multiple ways to recharge the batteries. The Volt combines an electric motor with a small gas-powered generator, which charges the batteries as they are used. Sounds complicated, and it is. But the result is a 40-mile range without recharging which is a considerably longer distance than the average worker’s daily commute. That’s 40 miles without an ounce of gas … now that’s gas mileage we can all dream of!

So, there’s hope for all of us in the not-too-distant future. My favorite color of green is MONEY, and I’m hoping to be able to save a bundle when these more fuel-efficient vehicles become readily available. To learn more about alternative and clean fuel vehicles, check out www.greenercars.org.