Imagine pulling into any old parking spot downtown, plugging your electric car into a box on the curb, running some errands, and coming back ten minutes later to find your car completely charged and your bank account automatically debited for the balance of your electricity use without you having to swipe any cards.

The electrification of the automobile is not only inevitable, advocates and experts say, it is essential because plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles offer our best chance to address global warming, achieve energy security and move us beyond oil.

With gas prices soaring, plugging in has its appeal. But there are trade-offs: high costs and low speed.

Although an Ox is not what I’d call a particularly stylish or intelligent animal, don’t let the name confuse you — the Th!nk Ox could be about the most attractive and functional electric car ever designed. Before the debate starts over that claim, note the all-important “and” between the words attractive and functional.

Two engineers built a prototype of a very fuel-efficient car in their spare time. KFMB's Spencer Washburn reports.

While we love hearing about sweet rides like the $100K Tesla Roadster, a functional and economical electric car made for the rest of us would be even cooler.

DETROIT — The Nissan Motor Company plans to sell an electric car in the United States and Japan by 2010, raising the stakes in the race to develop environmentally friendly vehicles.

Ed Begley, Jr. explains to actor friend Bradley Whitford why electric motors are more efficient, easy to charge and get plenty of mileage for everyday use, as they take is his pure electric truck for a spin.

Do you think the government is doing enough to find alternative energy solutions for gasoline cars?

Several government and private groups have linked together to manufacture the Philippine Electric Vehicle (PEV) which will run exclusively on automobile batteries.