By John Flood

joe hu/town crier Wrightspeed Inc.’s X-1 prototype is an electric concept car that goes from zero to 60 in three seconds. Rally attendees were delighted with the test ride.

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t’s not uncommon to see a fringe idea morph into a mainstream concern and then become commonplace. This appears to be the path ahead for electric vehicles. Once considered on the outer edge of transportation alternatives, electric vehicles are poised for a shift toward broader acceptance.

There was a palpable sense of enthusiasm for the electric vehicle’s (EV) future at a rally Sept. 30 at Palo Alto High School. More than 1,000 attendees looked at more than 50 types of electric vehicles, including cars, bikes, scooters and hybrids.

Sponsored by the Silicon Valley Chapter of the non-profit Electric Auto Association (EAA), the 34th annual electric vehicle rally offered test rides in cutting-edge electric vehicles and a chance to mingle with manufacturers, vendors and ardent EV hobbyists.

“The goal of the rally is to show the public that electric vehicles are a viable transportation alternative that can meet most or all of their daily driving needs,” said Jerry Pohorsky, president of the Silicon Valley Chapter. “Electric vehicles have zero emissions, are quiet, and eliminate dependence on foreign oil.”

While it might be a decade before you can drive an electric five-passenger sedan off a dealer’s lot for a price comparable to a gas-driven vehicle, the rally provided an intriguing look at the battery-charged years ahead.

“There are more attendees, more high-tech cars and more vendors this year than in any year,” said Pohorsky.

Higher gasoline prices and the movie “Who Killed the Electric Car?” have spurred interest in electric vehicles, Pohorsky said, and such recent developments as the introduction of Tesla Motors electric roadster have captured consumers’ imagination.

Drivers with a need for speed could examine the Tesla Motors roadster, while Wrightspeed Inc., a Silicon Valley start-up, offered rides in the X-1, a prototype sports car that goes from zero to 60 in three seconds.

The Tango generated a lot of buzz. The unusual-looking two-seater made by Commuter Cars Corp. of Spokane, Wash., sells for $108,000.

“In 15 to 30 years, there will be 150 million of these cars,” said Rick Woodbury, president of Commuter Cars.

For people on more modest budgets, two-wheel electric-vehicle manufacturers demonstrated gasoline-free motor scooters and bicycles.

Green E-motor Inc. of Santa Clara offered rides on its E-Cruiser 160, a motor scooter that looked a lot like a Vespa and sells at prices starting at $2,600.

“Most people at this show are environmental,” said Allen Chen, president of Green E-motor Inc. “They know the electric vehicle concept. This is the best show I’ve attended.” Chen sold five vehicles at the show.

Electric-bike.com, a Bay Area light electric vehicle advocacy group, gave test rides on two- and three-wheelers.

The advocacy group the California Cars Initiative (CalCars) featured a plug-in Toyota Prius that demonstrated the need to find more innovative ways to reduce emissions and save fuel than the current Prius.

A plug-in Prius has a larger battery and, at speeds less than 34 mph, will run on a battery charge instead of gasoline.

“It’s like having a second small fuel tank that you always use first,” said Felix Kramer, founder of CalCars. “You get to fill this one at home with electricity at an equivalent cost of under $1 per gallon.”

CalCars is hopeful that Toyota will offer the technology in its 2008 Prius, said Pohorsky.

Bill Hamilton of Palo Alto is already living the battery-charged life. He rode his electric bike, manufactured by Zero Air Pollution of Santa Rosa, to the show. Hamilton is delighted with it.

“This is a great mode of transportation,” Hamilton said. “It can go seven miles on one charge at up to 20 mph.”

Hamilton, who is in the technical staffing business, rides his electric bike to the Palo Alto train station, where he takes it to San Francisco to get around the city for business calls.

“I have no parking worries and no expense to park it,” he said.

For more information about electric vehicles, visit www.eaasv.org.