Five Electric Cars Available Now

Feb, 05 2010

Tesla Roadster

Cost: $109,000
Charge time: 3.5 hours; Range: 220 miles
Top speed: 125 mph

The Tesla Roadster, which recently entered production, is probably the best known electric car in America. The company's president has called it "the only production electric car for sale in the United States."

More On the Tesla at CNNMoney.com

GEM Car

Cost: $7,000 to $13,000
Charge time: 6-8 hours; Range: 30-40 miles
Top speed: 25 mph

The GEM car, from Chrysler's Global Electric Motorcars division, is more typical of what's available to today's average consumer.

More On the GEM Car at CNNMoney.com

Dynasty iT Sedan

Cost: $14,000 to $25,000
Charge time: 6 hours; Range: 30 miles
Top speed: 25 mph

Right now, Dynasty has only a few electric vehicles available in the U.S., but more should be available once factory production is up and running again.

More On the Dynasty iT at CNNMoney.com

ZENN

Cost: $16,000
Charge time: 6-8 hours; Range: 30-50 miles
Top speed: 25 mph

Its maker, ZENN Motor Company Inc., claims its energy efficiency is equivalent to a gasoline-powered car getting 245 miles per gallon.

More On the ZENN electric car at CNNMoney.com

Zap Xebra

Cost: $11,700
Charge time: 6 hours Range: 25 miles
Top speed: 40 mph

Technically speaking, the Xebra isn't a car. That's because it has only one front wheel, which makes it an electric motorcycle even though it can amazingly seat up to four. And you can get it with leather seats and a CD player.

More On the Zap Xebra at CNNMoney.com