Green cars for the stars

With larger than average personal incomes, many sports personalities, TV and film stars as well as a few writers, royals and even politicians are leading the way with cutting edge transport technology.

The UK TV star Jonathan Ross, for instance, can be seen driving his humble looking electric G-Wiz car around London. The Californian designed and Indian manufactured G-Wiz AEV (Automatic Electric Vehicle) - actually classified as a quadricycle - is the best selling EV in the UK and two times winner of Best City Car award. The 2008 model retains the earlier small size and nippiness, but offers improved performance, interior space and safety, whilst delivering the UK's lowest cost, lowest emissions motoring. It has a range of up to 48 miles per charge, a certified top speed of 50 mph and can accelerate swiftly to 30 mph and is easy to park with a minute turning circle.

Much more sporty, the electrically powered Tesla Roadster seems to suit stars like Matt Damon and Leonardo Di Caprio. The latter owns a Tesla Roadster. Also California designed, earlier this year Tesla Motors joined forces with Toyota to cooperate on the development of electric vehicles, parts, production and engineering. Toyota intend to buy US$50 million of Tesla's common stock.

Toyota's President - Akio Toyoda - claims that: "by partnering with Tesla, my hope is that all Toyota employees will recall that ‘venture business spirit,' and take on the challenges of the future."

Toyota, of course, introduced the first-generation Prius hybrid vehicle in 1997, and produced approximately 2.5 million hybrids in the following twelve years since. Some of these were bought by well known celebrities. Tesla's goal, however, is to produce increasingly affordable electric cars to mainstream buyers. They have already delivered more than 1000 Roadsters to customers in North America, Europe and Asia.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is renowned for his preference for gas-guzzling cars - particularly the Mercedes G-Class and, of course, the prestigious Hummer. Giving up his Hummer was clearly not an option, so Arnie converted it instead to run on hydrogen and biofuel. In similar fashion, Prince Charles preferred to convert his classic but very juicy Aston Martin DB6 to biofuel (tastefully produced from "surplus" wine in the UK). George Clooney, on the other hand, went for what claims to be the world's fastest clean urban vehicle - an electric Tango car. Also, Californian based, though arguably more of a motorbike in car's clothing, the Tango is small, narrow and highly manoeuvrable, yet, with over 1,000 ft-lbs of torque, capable of 0-60 in four seconds and a top speed of around 130mph.

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