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Auto Fair Focuses On Electric Cars

Wednesday, April 2, 2008 – updated: 6:38 pm EDT April 2, 2008

This week thousands of people will visit the area for this year's Auto Fair. But with skyrocketing gas prices, the show is more than just a look at the latest hot rods.

Both huge, snarling gas guzzling engines and quiet, streamlined electric powered cars are on display this weekend at the car show at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Track officials are calling the display "From Mean to Green."

They're showing big gas hogs of today and what cleaner cars running on electricity will be in the future. Steve Isom drives an electric car on display; He said it's nice to know skyrocketing fuel prices don't affect him.

"I just drive by gas stations and feel sorry for the people that don't realize this exists," he said.

He said electric cars are here and available now at a reasonable price. His car is called Zap. It's available at dealers across the country for a little more than $11,000. It cruises at 45 to 50 MPH and goes about 20 miles on one charge. Isom said this kind of car is important to our future driving on America's roads.

"We've got to get this off foreign oil dependency. This is part of the answer," he said.

Another option at the Auto Fair is flashier but also more expensive cars. They travel close to 100 miles on a charge and are similar to gas-driven cars just cheaper to drive. Ron Cerven builds higher-end electric cars in Mooresville.

"Man it's cool. It can be any vehicle you want. And if we start conserving fuel, then we can run hotrods have fun also," he said.

The cars Cervin sells start at just under $40,000.

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