Zap recently introduced their new Intimidator L.U.V., billed as the “neighborhood electric car”. At a price of $13,995, the range of this electric vehicle is 50miles at 25mph.
But is it a gadget? Well, maybe…it’s useful, electronic, and small (sort of).
The hybrid Toyota Prius at $20,510 may be a wiser choice. The Prius re-charges itself from its 
gasoline engine and gets great mileage at 55mpg, was selected by CarandDriver as 10Best, and if you order now, it might arrive by 2005.
The Intimidator, however, is all electric. What is so good about being all electric is that there may be an oil shortage this year. The International Energy Agency in their latest report states that world oil supply and demand, while in balance, are both at near all-time record levels. Surging demand from China, a $USD devaluation or a significant action by militants would tend to throw that balance out of equilibrium. It will be interesting to see what happens in 4Q2004, when Total World Demand for oil is expected to reach a record 82.8 million barrels per day. See this link for details.
Speaking of actions by militants, TerrorBet.com is in the process of setting up an exchange and being market-maker for trading futures based on certain types of political events, including terrorism.
Anyway, in the unlikely event that you actually purchase an Intimidator, and there is an interruption in the oil supply, you may well be the only person in your neighborhood who is able to make it to the corner store. Now that would make this a useful gadget.
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