Please do some actual research on electric cars and you will find answers.

-Why do some have three wheels? To be considered motorcycles and avoid onerous safety testing regulations to expensive for small start-ups. Which brings up the question, why can't the government help with the costs of passing these tests if we are serious about Climate protection?

-Why are others only 25 mph? Again same government regulation answer. If they are to have four tires and avoid the tests they have to be artificially limited to 25 mph.

-Why do companies keep making electric cars if it is financial suicide? Well, the market leader GEM was bought be Daimler-Chrysler, who is making lots of money, except for the SUV-heavy Chrysler part.

I am doing actual research into one of those three-wheel Xebras. While I haven't made a final decision on getting one or not, I have looked at the benefits and drawbacks. Along the why I am reexamining whether a high-horsepower, dangerously heavy, long-range car is a good idea, electric or not.

Dangerously Heavy?
Maybe you meant Dangerously Light?

The heavier the vehicle, the more likely to kill people,
The faster the vehicle is traveling, the more likely to kill people,

SUV are extremely efficient at killing people walking, biking, and driving other vehicles. That makes them dangerous. Yet most Americans seems to believe that "safe" means having a vehicle that is good at killing others. That is sociopathic thinking.

A safe car is one that is less likely to kill people inside or outside the vehicle. Of course SUVs also kill their owners in high numbers of rollovers too. So they fail both sides of the equation.

I found this post and the answers interesting and informative.

When their intentions are sincere I can live with the fact that some posters may not be up to speed on every aspect of what they post about, so long as questions are posed... and especially when they get answered. So thank you, EastBayBlue, you are obviously very smart and have done the research. That could come possibly across just as well without bashing others over the head?

The legislative impediment to going 4-wheel is interesting. And I agree needs further investigation and answering. I have to say as an ad-man that the thing can be as worthy as you like, but if it looks like it will fall over (amongst other stylistic shortfalls - then again the Prius isn't exactly slick to my eyes) it will suffer consumer resistance. And that needs addressing if these things are credible solutions to emissions.

Maybe you can help me here. I have taken our UK media to task with stories on these efforts before, when they stand next to one and gush that it is' 'pollution free'. By my best estimation, they are not, depending on the source of electricity to charge them. And even nuclear still produces pollution and greenhouse gasses in the form of steam, so really the exhaust pipe is just in another place.

Then there is the efficiency of energy transfer between generator to storage in vehicle at home, and then as a % of miles covered.

Maybe you could help educate me/us further?

Do before you talk. Then share. If it's also fun and inspiring, people will want to read more. They may even be inspired follow your example.

is going to look very stupid very quickly...

What a winner!  Almost as dream-worthy as those chrome silhouettes on mud guards.

To EastBayBlue, on "sociopathic thinking": Well, yes, that is extremely well put, and I hope it becomes the sensus omnium.  Unfortunately, we are over and over again told that people buy SUVs in the belief that they are doing something good, specifically helping to defend their families.

Really, this is a great anthropological project: Why is treating our neighbors as collateral damage considered a normal, acceptable part of being an upstanding, family-loving American?

As for my bimbette girlfriend Rainbow Trike, and, more substantively, BioD's suggestion that electric cars are "going nowhere" unless and until they become "sexy": Am I the only person here who finds that extremely boring?  It is probably true that I have written more about sex than anybody else on Gristmill, perhaps more than everybody else on Gristmill combined.  And yet, I cannot help feeling that BioD thinks about sex more seriously, more solemnly than anyone.  One might think he was the reverend director of a Catholic seminary, the way he insists on the moral importance of sex.

Those candy-colored, bean-shaped electric tricycles are adorable, and I for one would be very happy to ride one around town, if ever I need a vehicle.

Chickens are our cousins! So are other sensitive animals! Enough is enough! No more factory farms!

The lovely pea green car is the ZAP XEBRA (pronounced Zebra) which is in production with a sedan and truck for about $10,000.  It's on sale now, which is probably why you have seen it zipping around.

ZAP is working on other faster, more expensive electric car that may come on the market over the next few years, but I decided not to wait and today I'm driving a XEBRA (with stripes) back and forth to work. It's a dream not having to buy gas.

The Carver is sexy, but I first saw this video about four years ago and it looks like that haven't made any progress.

1 Car = 200 trees

Thanks for the response.  The XEBRA was designed to be different from other cars. No, it is not for everyone. It is available, which addresses the most important problem with electric cars, IMHO.

1 Car = 200 trees