Autoblog Green

What can we say about the Geo Metro that hasn't already been said? When it was new, the Metro got tremendous gas mileage, and that fuel efficiency remains on used models, which are trading hands at prices high enough to buy a brand-new car. It's place on our list was therefore a foregone conclusion. We might add that this is the only non-hybrid or electric car that gets a mention. Remember, though, that the Metro is going to take some sacrifices to drive daily, not the least of which involves passenger safety (click on image above to continue).

Now that the Toyota Prius is about to enter its third generation and Honda is set to unleash its totally revamped Insight, these early models mark the entry point of modern hybrid technology. Either hybrid will offer exceptional fuel economy along with the Japanese brand's stellar history of reliability. Unlike the older Metro, these hybrids are thoroughly modern machines. Get 'em now while they're still cheap.

As the story goes, Honda realized in the late '80s that petroleum wouldn't last forever. Buoyed by the successes that General Motors was having with its solar racers, Honda embarked on a program to bring a practical electric vehicle to market that could be powered by stand-alone solar systems. Of course, it wasn't as easy as it sounds.
Click here for the whole tale.

Back in the late '90s, Nissan unveiled its first-ever electric vehicle. Called the Altra EV, this was a more practical model than many of its competitors due to its minivan shape, and it holds the distinction of being the first production EV in the United States to use lithium-ion batteries, giving it a range of a then unheard-of 120 miles. If you can manage to get your hands on one of these, you'll not only have an excellent electric car but a sure-fire collectible as well.

When the Blue Oval first embarked on this project, it had very big plans. There were two different electric cars to be produced along with a couple of electric bikes. Yeah, that didn't work out so well. Unfortunately, the project was a money-loser and instead of having the foresight to keep at it, Ford sold off its shares of the brand. Still, vehicles were made and they can still be found floating around here and there. Because you are much more likely to actually find one, the Th!nk series of vehicles earns a spot on our list at number 6.

Click here for a gallery of the Th!nk EVs

Why would a minivan place so highly on our list of future collectibles? Simple: practicality. Just think, how much would a five-passenger all-electric vehicle that can travel at 70 miles per hour with a range of 80 miles or so an MPGe score of over 200 miles per gallon be worth? Chrysler built 56 electric vans in the mid-to-late '90s and there are still some floating around, including one that is driven regularly in Phoenix, Arizona to this day. A few years later, Dodge showed off its EPIC concept, which used a similar drivetrain setup except with 324-volts of lead-acid batteries that replaced the older nickel-based units. The vehicles were sold to various utility companies, and if you can get your hands on one, we'd recommend it.

We'd rate the S10 EV a bit higher, but it was only available for model years 1997 and 1998, so there aren't likely to be all that many floating around too much longer. A 114-horsepower 3-Phase AC motor design held much in common with the unit that powered GM's more recognizable electric vehicle (more on that later). For '97, Chevy sold the EV with a lead-acid battery pack, which was replaced in '98 with a more advanced nickel-based piece. Acceleration was decent, as was range with the later battery capable of propelling the truck to a top speed of 70mph and for a range of 90 miles. Just under 500 S10 EVs were built, and just 60 were sold as opposed to leased. A keen eye on eBay Motors sometimes turnes one up. Later, GM pulled the program out of retirement to test out in-wheel electric motors, producing a truck that could outperform a Chevy Camaro down the drag strip. See the photo above for proof.

Ford offered an electric version of its Ranger pickup for five years ending in 2002. Because of this relatively long production run, it's not too hard to locate them on the used market. Both lead-acid and nickel metal hydride batteries were offered, with the latter providing a 60-mile range at a constant 65mph. That's not too shabby at all. Unlike the Chevy S10 EV, the Ranger used a rear-wheel drive chassis. Because of its practical nature and the fact that you can still get them used, the Ranger delivers a number 3 spot on our list.

Starting in February 2002, Toyota began sales of its electrified RAV4 to the general public. Before this, the EV was leased only to utility companies and fleets. Its permanent-magnet DC motor offers 67-horsepower and its top speed of nearly 80mpg and range of up to 100 miles made it an extremely attractive electric vehicle. After all discounts and credits were applied, the Rav4 EV buyer only owed about $30K of the car's $42,000 price, and that turned out to be quite a deal. Recent RAV4 EVs have been selling on eBay for much, much higher figures. Don't expect it to come cheap, but the return-on-investment on one of these suckers is still rather high.

What other vehicle could we choose for out top spot? Its collectible nature is ensured due to the highly publicized way it was crushed. Heck, an entire movie was made about its death. Still, there are a few EV1s floating around, and those models are sure to be nearly priceless as time marches on. First sold with lead-acid batteries from Delco, second-generation EV1s were blessed with higher-spec nickel metal hydride units that offered a range of up to 150 miles. That's excellent. In operation, it was quick, could hit 80 miles per hour and drove like a real car. Will the release of the upcoming Chevy Volt take any luster off the good 'ol EV1? We doubt it, as it was released with such hype and fanfare when new that our memories are trained never to forget it. Speaking of the Volt, we'll definitely be keeping tabs on its resale value after a few years... we may need to update our list one of these days.