We’ve come such a distance in the last decade in terms of innovation for alternate energy vehicles. The truth is we’ve only just begun to make the conversion to making the automobile industry an environmental one without the dependence on fossil fuels. Twenty years ago miles per gallon / km per litre were among the selling points of a new vehicle, my sincere hope is that within the next decade these old terms will be replaced by range per charge or range per cell. Electric or fuel cell vehicles will be the future with the right application of investment and technologies – our innovation in automobile design has rarely gone stagnant and the new age we enter is exciting and hopeful – but also requires marketing, strategy, research and innovation. None of this touches on something that appeals (at one time or another) to almost all new car buyers – what does the car look like. The news on that front is excellent too as you’ll see beneath.

Ferrari’s new petrol-electric hybrid 599 can switch between zero-emissions electric power, petrol power, or a mix of the two, cutting emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and boosting fuel consumption. The remarkable prototype appeared at the opening day of the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland and was the star of the show. The hybrid vehicle – which uses the electric motor to support a more traditional 6.0-litre V12 gasoline engine – featured a bright metallic green paint to reinforce its environmentally friendly credentials. Ferrari hope to be able to offer the green technology as an option across Ferrari’s entire range of cars by 2015.

Mercedes are also changing the market (and to be fair are closer to greening their fleet than many) and were featuring some eco-friendly prototypes at the exhibition. The F800 4 door coupe (above) is designed to be a plug-in hyrbid and fuel cell car. Market date 2012 or 2013.

Finally for the buyer who wants a true sports car that is also green Porsche have the answer in the near future. The new 918 Spyder (above) achieves the unthinkable, the performance of a top notch sports car with the emissions of a sub-compact. The plug-in hybrid offers 94 mpg and the speed that some need.

I’ll write more soon and feature some vehicles that the rest of us might be able to afford!

Tags: 2010 geneva auto show, alternate energy, alternative fuel, alternative fuel vehicles, auto show, eco-cars, eco-friendly cars, electric cars, emissions, emissions reduction, energy conservation, ferrari, ferrari 599, Fossil Fuels, fuel cells, hybrid vehicles, Mercedes, miles per charge, miles per gallon, planet forward, Porsche, Porsche 918 spyder, vehicle range