Chevy has already announced an electric version of the Chevy Spark for the US, with availability set for 2013.

Some of the information gathered from trials of the Beat EV will be used to refine the production version of the Spark EV, but GM hasn’t yet provided details on the battery size, range, or pricing of the production vehicle.

The electric version of the Spark / Beat will also be available in some global markets. The diesel variant of the Beat carries a three-cylinder turbo diesel engine based on Fiat multi-jet technology. It is said to be good for about 130 km (81 miles) of normal driving.

For the EV, the recharge time with 240-volt power is under eight hours. A single-speed-drive unit and an electric motor producing about 45-kW (60 horsepower) turn the front wheels. No top speed or other tech specs were listed for the latest EV being shown by its North America-based maker in several markets other than its home market.

In Germany, the electric GM/Opel Meriva, announced back in September 2010, has a 60-kW (82-horsepower) electric motor with torque output of 215 Nm (159 foot-pounds). Its 16 kWh battery delivers range of 64 km (40 miles), and top speed of 130 kph (81 mph).

Would you get to drive this beauty?

E-waste is the trickiest waste. Ever thought on these lines?  The sky-rocketing production of electronic products is racing with the pace at which it is discarded as well. We have reached a stage where we cannot imagine survival without mobile phones, computers, televisions, audio –video equipment, printers and the like. The most replaced of these are mobile phones, followed by computers.

The micro particles that make up the sophisticated electronic gadgets can prove the worst hazard to our environment, notes an expert. See whatBahrainPolytechnic Sustainability Officer Dr Claire Cosgrove, has to say:

“Municipal, biomedical and industrial wastes are much talked about these days. However, electronic waste is a topic which needs major attention in today’s world.”

WEEE, short for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment, can no more be regarded a ‘wee’ bit of worry, says Dr Cosgrove. Explaining further, she adds that sources of e-waste are mainly from telecommunication industry, electrical and electronic industry and cable wastes.