Meanwhile, if you are considering going electric in the next year or two, yet you feel that superbikes and Tesla roadsters are perhaps a little outside of your budget, then never fear, as a number of the bigger car manufacturers are all currently prepping smaller electric 'urban' cars for commercial release in the next few years.
The latest of these is from Mitsubishi, with the company unveiling its i-MiEV electric vehicle (based on the "i" minicar) at the New York Auto Show this week - set for a commercial release sometime "before 2012."
Tesla itself is also set to launch its Model S sedan in 2011, which is set to be one of the first mass-produced EVs, capable of doing up to 480 kilometers per charge.
The ideal bike for London?
In terms of more affordable electric bikes, the recently announced Zero S electric motorbike looks like it should fit the bill.
T3 notes that the Zero S "has the looks of an above-average off-roader, but doesn't have the volume or the more harmful effects on the environment."
It also boasts "an aircraft-grade aluminum body, a custom 'Z-Force' power pack for enhanced accleration, a digital speedometer and our favourite, the 'projector beam' headlight, which sounds as James Bond as it gets."
The Zero S – out this summer for $10,000 (£6,800) - would of course be no good for the TT Races as it only has a top speed of 60mph and a maximum distance of 60 miles per charge, but for city dwellers that is really all you need. (Indeed, the motorcycling fiends and scooter-boys on the TechRadar team rarely get past 50mph until they are well outside of Zone 6!).
As well as being planet-friendly, congestion-charge exempt (and virtually free to run) there are loads more spin-off benefits of investing in an electric bike such as the Zero S.
For example, London mayor Boris Johnson plans to build an infrastructure of 25,000 charging points for electric bikes and cars across the city at an estimated £60 million cost over the next few years. Which, should it ever see the light of day, will mean that you will be able to travel around the city with ease, without worrying too much about roaming outside of your 'charge radius'.
For more on all things electric car related, check out Autobloggreen's World Car of the Year's 'World Green Car' awards.
See you in the Isle of Man in June!
