Electric cars and hybrids have come of age. Although they have existed in the global auto industry for many decades, growing environmental concern, pollution hazards and a declining amount fossil fuels have led to the fast emergence of alternative fuel technology.

Green is in as never before, as carmakers trumpet how low their models' carbon dioxide emissions can go - and lower than an EV is not possible! There are several companies today all over the world that are engaged in manufacturing cars that use electric motors and controllers. These cars run on batteries that provide the energy supply to run an engine. Over time, capacitors and other advanced versions of fuel cells will be used in these cars.

The key aspect of using such cars is that they do not harm the environment. The days that we will be having high end charging stations for these cars - similar to the filling stations we have for the conventional gasoline based cars  today - seem not far.

Though the running costs of conventional cars and electric cars are comparable, the servicing costs are somewhat lower for electric cars and hence one can at least give a thought to the issue of possessing an electric car. Researchers have also said that the efficiency of electric cars is better.

That being said, in the current state of affairs, the key consideration in buying an Electric Vehicle must be the environment, and perhaps, a better controllobility of cost - after all, petrol and diesel prices are decided in the Middle East, whereas electricity prices are more stable.

In this auto guide, Shiva and Payal take a look at the Electric Car.