Small and green - the shape of future car makers?

Lightning Hybrids is the latest micro car maker to unveil a design for a super-efficient four seater.

The LH4 is powered by three-cylinder turbo biodiesel that is expected to deliver 100mpg. Its performance is further boosted by a hydraulic pump/motor, which is re-charged through energy lost during braking.

The car is a potential candidate for the $10m Automotive X-Prize, a competition open to 100mpg production cars.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “The trend towards smaller and more efficient models means the market will open to micro-sized car makers like Lightning Hybrids.”

A rival for the Tesla Roadster

The best-known small producer of fuel efficient cars is Tesla, a company that is already selling its Roadster model, the world’s first production electric sports car.

Compared to the very few electric cars already on the market, the two-seater, all-electric Tesla is radically different in almost every respect – including its £75,000 price tag.

Four-seater electric cars

A British-built electric car with a range of 300 miles looks set to provide stiff competition for the LH4 and eagerly-awaited successor to the Tesla S saloon.

The £20,000 Vauxhall Ampera could be on sale in three years and boasts a specification that could dramatically boost the popularity of electric cars.

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What is the ETA?

The ETA is an organisation providing motorists and cyclists with carbon-neutral breakdown cover and insurance products. As well as encouraging responsible driving to reduce carbon, the ETA campaigns for sustainable transport.