Sakura Maranello4

Another contender is the Maranello4, which can be hired from electriccarhire.com or bought from Sakura Battery Co. for a fraction less than ten grand. That sounds like a lot of money of course when compared to a normal car, but the Maranello4 has all the benefits listed elsewhere for electric cars, which, under certain usage, could save you thousands of pounds in comparison to a regular car.

We think the Maranello4 name is a nod to Ferrari and the company makes a lot of noise about the car's styling. Sorry to say that the nicest description we can muster is that it is distinctive, but of course that's not the whole point. Top speed is 30mph and the range is up to 45 miles, after which time the Maranello4 can be plugged into any mains outlet for charging. Apparently, the company also has a diesel-electric hybrid version under development.

Tuesday April 3