I do not use gasoline. My sailboat had a diesel motor in it, I took it out and replaced it with an electric bench grinder.
I have a Rutland 913 wind generator, (2) 1000w Photowatt solar panels,
(10) 92ah AGM batteries, (1)1200w inverter, a charge controller.
My boat has 1 mainsail, (1) 150 genoa, (1) working jib.
I use electric motor to get in and out of port, and sails the rest of the way.
I have a 8' dinghy that is powered by a dual head minn-kota elec. trolling motor for trips ashore.
My wind and solar setup powers all systems aboard while anchored out or at sea.
I can motor on windless days for 10 hours with sun, 6 hours without sun.
I am building a 3 passenger car with a similar setup.
In first few runs, I was able to drive 60 mph for 5 hours with 3 people in vehicle , 8 hours with just me driving before needing a charge.
My hybrid vehicle uses 4 Scuba tanks for compressed air turbines, and electric motor independent wheel drive.
I am about 2 months and $50k away from going public.
I have been writing and volunteering with Obama campaign since April 2007, and I am hoping to hear from his "car Tsar" soon.
I have over 30 years experience being a geek with stuff like this, I have built alternative energy homes in remote Montana locations that use solar and wind and passive solar for energy.
I have advertised in Mother Earth News and have sold several designs to mail-order customers since 1994.
I agree with you about the clean cars, and a trillion dollars would definitely re-tool all 3 car companies, but is that what American's want?
My experience with American drivers is that they like to drive fast and rev engines loud and waste fuel to demonstrate how pwerful "they" are because of the big-block engines. Americans love to drive big SUVs at least 75mph on the highways, and my best efforts can only do 60mph.
My car does not make a throaty macho sound at stoplights, and I do not have over-sized tires and gun rack on my utility truck.
It is almost impossible to hear my car when it drives by you on a highway, and I do not have a model that towers over other cars.
If I do spend the next 2 months working on perfecting my car, will anyone in a red state buy one?