I love the articles in the April edition about CAT & Volvo developing the next generation of heavy equipment.  With skyrocketing fuel costs and technological advances, these new ideas are becoming reality! 

Then further in the magazine is the Automotive Industry Focus section displaying the new GREEN concept cars.  Those too are interesting in the designs and evolving technology.

They are nice eye candy to gaze upon, BUT, Why isn't all that talent being applied to something that most of us really need? 

Such as, and small, light inexpensive to own and maintain electric car that probably 50% or more of the population would love to have for their daily commute & errands???

I see all these gadgeted-up SUV's and sports cars such as the Hummer, Lexus, Mazda, BMW and Mitsu's that are probably only appealing to the auto show crowd and those with much higher incomes that the other 95% of the general population.

I just cannot help but think if all this creative energy was expended on simplistic and realistic commuter cars as I described above that we might already have something available to buy right now, that's affordable for all?

I have a full size diesel truck (that only see's the road when absolutely needed).  A Nisssan Xterra & Altima for our commuting cars, but If there were such an inexpensive car available for say up to 100 miles per charge, and wouldn't cost you a second mortgage to replace batteries in when needed and last maybe 10+ years and be in the $10k to $15k range on price, COUNT ME IN!

Get real People!  Get something out there NOW that is functional and realistic and forget the gadgets!  We can't wait another 5 years until (if any of)these overpriced concepts become reality.

The next generation of battery technology (smaller/more storage/power) has got to be just around the corner that will make hybrids/ battery autos all the more possible.