The truth is, electric vehicle technology is already on the road. Millions of today's cars and trucks are hybrids, or gasoline-powered vehicles with batteries and at least one electric motor. Some hybrids can run for miles on electric power - and future hybrids will have bigger battery packs and more powerful motors, so they can use electrical propulsion even more frequently.
Those next-gen hybrids will have plug-in capability, meaning that their owners can plug them into a charging station to power up their battery packs. Toyota, for example, is planning a plug-in version of its popular Prius sedan; Ford expects to offer a plug-in hybrid version of its next Focus small car.
Chevrolet is getting into the game, too. The company's forthcoming Volt hatchback has a small gasoline engine that will help recharge its batteries - making it the first electric vehicle to have a range-extending engine built in.
And pure electric vehicles will hit the road in greater numbers. Nissan is planning an electric hatchback called the Leaf that will run for as many as 100 miles, and Ford is working on a full-electric Focus (in addition to the hybrid model).
A big advantage to electric vehicles is that they're often eligible for generous state rebates. The rebate programs will provide more people with a reason to buy an electric car - but buying an electric vehicle raises the issue of using more electricity. That's where solar power can come in.
A homeowner who generates solar power with her own array - or buys clean power through a power purchase agreement - will be able to "fuel" her electric vehicle for far less than it would cost to buy gasoline. If gas prices skyrocket like they did two years ago, driving an electric vehicle and charging it with solar energy will become even smarter.
There are myriad reasons to drive an electric car: They produce no emissions, have less rigorous maintenance schedules than internal-combustion cars and may be eligible for rebates. And when they are powered by the sun, their environmental impact is almost negligible. Solar energy and electric vehicles are a perfect pairing.
