auto
Waiting for all-electric cars
 Dear Terry,
The last new car I purchased was a 1997 Pontiac Grand Am GT and it has been wonderful. When I decide to get a new car I certainly will look at GM, but I want something that uses no gasoline. Maybe a backup generator that uses a little of some diesel or something. This is to extend the range of a totally electric vehicle. I like the information I have been able to find out about the Concept Chevy Volt. It can be configured to run on electricity, gasoline, E85 or biodiesel. But when will it be available?
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Dwight Waller
 Dear Dwight,
I hate to dim your hopes, but the major manufacturers are still years away from offering vehicles that don't use any gasoline or other fossil fuel.
For 2007, Honda does offer a Civic that runs on compressed natural gas (CNG), but the availability of that fuel makes owning this car somewhat problematic. Some manufacturers have fuel-cell vehicles in the testing phase, but there are no announced plans for regular production. And that Chevy Volt concept? What we've seen so far is a nonworking concept that still has a long way to go before it hits production, if ever. Manufacturers are working on all manner of vehicles that will limit or eliminate the use of gasoline, but they won't be available by the time you need to replace that Grand Am.  | | Here are this week's reader questions: | | | | • | Shorter car loans are less 'interest-ing' | | • | Comparing prices of used cars | | • | Negotiating the price on a lease car | | • | Waiting for all-electric cars |
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