There was a time when people used to think that they would soon travel around the world on jet packs and hover cars but that hasn’t happened as yet. However, what certainly did happen was the introduction of Green cars in the market. Green cars were launched as a part of the green initiative program in order to make earth a better place to live in. Green cars have proven to be very effective in cutting down the amount of air pollution that is caused by exhaust fumes of cars. Other names for Green cars are electric cars and hybrid cars. These cars run on an electric rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) or an internal combustion engine. However, cars are not the only vehicle that are using hybrid power, trains, busses and even trolleys have switched to hybrid power. This is being done to preserve natural resources as well as to reduce air pollution.

Hybrid cars are certainly the future cars of 21st century and it also the next big thing in the automobile industry. Hybrid cars are very popular these days and are known as smart cars in the market. These smart cars have become so popular in the market that people have to wait for over a year long to buy one. The hybrid car is called the “Smart fortwo” in the market; it can seat only two persons. The Smart fortwo is an extraordinarily small and compact car, looks something like a box.

The Smart fortwo is available in both manual and automatic modes with a 5 speed transmission. Other optional things include air conditioner, power windows and alloy wheels. It is important here to understand the concept of smart car; it is not associated with the outlook of the car only, rather it is a car the keeps the environment healthy and accommodates the drivers get to and from their destinations. Its compact size also makes it look smart; it occupies very little space and can be easily parked.

Besides the “Smart fortwo”, smart cars have other models as well; these include the forfour, the formore, the crossblade, the crosstown, the smart ev and the roadster. The smart ev is available for only a trial period right now and is being planned on a launch in the United Kingdom sometime in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Smart cars employed in United States only, Canada, Mexico, Taiwan and Japan are other countries that are employing these cars. It certainly seems that in a short period of time smart cars will be seen on the roads more often than today.