The only vehicle that is close to hitting the mainstream is the Mitsubishi MIEV supermini, first road-tested some 18 months ago. A Government study is about to commence in which 25 motorists will evaluate the MIEV for daily use on UK roads.

The Mitsubishi MIEV feasibility test was massively over subscribed with 3,000 drivers applying to take part. Interest is so great that Mitsubishi have ordered a further 500 vehicles for 2010.

Both Peugeot and Citroen have signed agreements to sell the electric motors with their badges which reflects their confidence in the technology.

One of the most outstanding and appealing features of the MIEV supermini is economy. It costs just 96p (about $1.6) to fully charge the battery at standard electricity charges. A fully charged battery will let you travel a little less than 100 miles, under ideal conditions. This makes it possible to travel 12,000 miles for about £115 ($183).

Another feature of the MIEV that will often turn heads is how quiet it is. There have been concerns raised by road safety campaigners including advocates for the blind and elderly.

If you have never encountered an electric car before you’d be excused for expecting the performance and speed of a golf buggy. But the MIEV is actually capable of a top speed of about 87mph. which is easily fast enough for UK roads. But be warned, travelling at speed will quickly deplete the electricity supply.

It certainly looks like the future for cars is electric. With new advances in battery technology taking place almost daily it is likely that within a few short years our roads will begin to fill with near silent electricity powered cars, plugging in to lampposts to refuel on cheap electrical power.

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The second hand car market is one of the few parts of the motoring industry that has grown because of the recession. Prices of used cars are currently on the rise, that’s right, they are going against the flow of the recession. Although this may not sound very good intially as you will have to pay more for used cars for sale, however, if you are trading in, you will get more money for your old car.

The reason why this part of the industry has become popular is that people are trying to save as much cash as they can. In an attempt to do this, they opt for buying a second hand car rather than a brand new one. One recent thing that definately hasn’t helped the position of the new car market is that due to the recession, new car prices have actually gone up. You’d think that car manufacturers wouldn’t dare rising prices, however, because the exchange rates are poor, they are forced to raise some of their prices.

As a result of more people opting for used cars, the demand for these second hand cars has seen a dramatic rise. As the demand for used cars rise, plus as more cars are being scrapped under the scrappage scheme, it’s getting difficult to find your ideal second hand car. Now as used car dealers begin to run low on supplies, they are increasing prices for trading in a car, making it sound like a better deal for car owners.

The only downside is that despite they are getting more for their old cars, they are having to pay more when it comes to buying a diffrent second hand car. So to be honest, you are not making any extra money for your old car, but most people would rather buy a used car rather than buy an Audi straight off the production line at the factory.

The only people that lose out are the people that don’t trade in an old car.

The largest operator of public car parks in the United Kingdom, Park Rite, say that the dimensions of parking spaces need to relate to the vehicles that the space is intended for. The current standard calls for bays that are 2.4m wide and 4.8m in length. But many of todays popular vehicles will only just fit into this space leaving no room for doors to be opened easily.

There have been reports that some car park operators have purposely made some of their parking spaces narrower in order to squeeze more vehicles into their car parks. Some of the worst offenders are reported to be certain hospital car parks, some supermarkets and some long-stay airport parking lots. There have been reports, from some long stay airport car parks , of people unable to open their doors due to adjacent vehicles being parked too close.

Is the problem due to the size of parking spaces or is it due to the increase in the size of popular cars? A common and popular 4 wheel drive vehicle is the Toyota Rav4. This common four wheel drive car has a width of 1.815m, without its mirrors. If we allow around 35cm for the wing mirrors this brings the width up to 1.85m. In a parking space of 2.4m width leaving only 0.55m or as little as 0.275m on either side. Clearly a bit of squeeze when opening the doors and getting in and out of the car.

Narrow parking spaces present a particular problem for many vehicles that have long side doors, as do many 3 door models. The popular Renault Clio 3 Door, for example, has a width, including mirrors, of 2.025m. In a standard 2.4m space this would leave only 0.375m or only around 0.19m either side for opening the doors and getting into and out of the car.

The only option available to motorists is to complain to the car park operators and ask for larger parking bays that can accommodate wider vehicles.

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Top Tip: Make the most of your trip by spending a night in an airport hotel before your flight. And why not enjoy the hospitality of an airport lounge before you fly.