CHICAGO -- Electric cars have been around for more than a decade, but as a 2006 documentary "Who Killed The Electric Car?" explained, electric cars have become virtually extinct.
In Illinois, the question isn't who killed the electric car but rather, why can't we drive them? "Right now, it would technically be illegal (to drive them) because we are in public roadways," said Alderman Manny Flores. Manufacturers of the e-car say the law needs to be changed, and Flores, of the 1st ward, agrees. "This gives us a unique opportunity to be responsible stewards of the environment and get jobs for people, all in an eco-friendly way," he said. "No gas, no emissions, very little maintenance," said Bob Tourounjian, marketing director or Electric Vehicle Co. "Right now, it makes so much sense to drive electric. With the price of gas as high as it is, (there is) great concern about the environment." According to the manufacturers, most e-cars are made with steel, crash-test like any other car, and are just as safe to drive. Some e-cars -- those intended for campuses and cities -- don't go over 35 mph and take about six hours to fully charge. "Electric cars are in their infancy, but technology will advance rapidly in the next few years," said John Eboli, COO of Electric Vehicle Co. By the time new models emerge, at least one alderman -- Flores -- plans to make it legal to drive. "In Chicago, we are going to have to pass some sort of legislation that would allow for these vehicles to be operated locally," said Flores.
