I mentioned a human electric hybrid vehicle before the Twike, but if you are not in pedaling check out the BUGe, a DIY electric vehicle you can buy from a kit for $3,000 or buy fully assembles for $4,00. Pretty neat idea, and great for small trips. The benefit of electric vehicles is the improved efficiency and zero emissions from the car, if you get your energy from coal you will still be creating green house gasses. Even if you are using coal to create the electricity to power the vehicle it is still produce less (pdf) green house gasses than if you burned gasoline or diesel in an internal combustion engine.

The design goal was to create a simple, low cost personal mobility vehicle that could function in a four-season environment on city streets.

The vast majority of vehicle trips are local (20 miles or less) by one person

(75%) within the community. This is also where livability is threatened by pollution and congestion. This is where people live. Their personal mobility options should be compatible with those community values.

Local urban transportation is perfectly suitable for electric power since electric motors produce good torque and low end power for stop and go traffic, do not need transmissions, are off at signals because they do not need to idle.

A small battery pack is adequate for these short trips and re-charging opportunities are available everywhere within the gird, from every outlet. Every convenience store is a power station. Energy efficiency is 1 cent per mile.

A light-weight vehicle is compatible with short trips within the community provided if offers some minimum features typically not found on two wheeled bicycles and scooters:

Cargo capacity (two bags of groceries)

Stability (three wheels)

Visibility in traffic (auto seat height)

Weather protection (wind and rain)(via)