The National Electric Drag Racing Association (NEDRA) is out to change the perception of electric vehicles (EVs).

"EVs are more than glorified golf carts," says Chip Gribben, the NEDRA's PR Director. "Our whole mantra has been to dispel the myth that EVs are slow and we have been pretty successful."

Founded in 1997, NEDRA organizes drag racing competitions to show off the speed that vehicles powered by electricity can reach. As interest in electric vehicles has grown in recent years, so has the popularity of NEDRA's drag racing competitions.

This isn't only reflected by growing crowds. Gribben cites major sponsorship deals and notes that several NEDRA drivers have begun getting sponsorship from battery companies. NEDRA was also recently invited to the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series in July. "The fact that we have been invited means that the racing community is beginning to take a serious look at electric drag racing and NEDRA," he says.

Check out some videos of electric vehicles burning rubber at various NEDRA competitions below.

In last September's competition, the "KillaCycle" set a new NEDRA record by going a quarter of a mile in 7.864 seconds (reaching 169 miles per hour).

At the same competition, another electric bike, the ElectroCat, set a new NEDRA record for a 48-volt street-legal motorcycle by an eighth of a mile in 13.24 seconds (reaching 52.97 miles per hour).

The video above shows a Tesla roadster racing an in OBS junior dragster in a competition held earlier this year.

In this race, a Tesla roadster goes up against an electrified 1972 Datsun 1200, called White Zombie.

In this clip another electric drag bike, AGNS, makes a run.

2008 Ford Escape Hybrid Credit: Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company has just released its plan for surviving in the current lousy economy--the report is part of an effort this week by the Big Three automakers to get massive loans from the government. They were rebuffed last month when they came to Washington begging for money and apparently not looking apologetic enough as they climbed into their private jets. This time at least two of the executives reportedly drove to Washington.

At the heart of the plan is the use of "advanced" technology to make cars with better fuel economy, including several hybrids and an electric van. From the report: "Half of our Ford, Lincoln and Mercury light duty nameplates qualify by 2010 as 'Advanced Technology Vehicles' under the Energy Independence and Security Act [EISA]."

So, is this a big deal?

Here's what an advanced technology vehicle is, according to EISA:

(1) ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY VEHICLE- The term `advanced technology vehicle' means a light duty vehicle that meets--

(A) the Bin 5 Tier II emission standard established in regulations issued by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under section 202(i) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7521(i)), or a lower-numbered Bin emission standard;

(B) any new emission standard in effect for fine particulate matter prescribed by the Administrator under that Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.); and

(C) at least 125 percent of the average base year combined fuel economy for vehicles with substantially similar attributes.

The first two have to do with non-carbon dioxide emissions, things such as particulates and other emissions that lead to smog. Bin 5 Tier II is the middle-of-the-road level of emissions under relatively new, strict emissions standards. Car companies haven't had trouble meeting these requirements, according to an EPA report. Being able to meet these standards in the future isn't that impressive.

Having fuel economy 25 percent higher than other similar vehicles is more impressive. How is Ford doing this? Next year the company will sell many of its cars with "Ecoboost" engines. These use direct-injection and turbo-charging to extract more power from engines, allowing the company to use smaller, more efficient engines. (For a related technology being considered by Ford, see "The Incredible Shrinking Engine.") The technology can improve fuel economy by 20 percent. The company is also doing smaller things, like using electric power steering pumps and 6-speed transmissions, which can improve efficiency by a few percentage points. It's also adding two more hybrids to the two it already has (the Escape and Mariner).

None of this is earth-shattering stuff--it's basically adapting existing technologies in smart ways. But it's good to see Ford is actually doing it. More cutting edge is the company's plan to sell plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles, starting with an electric van in 2010 and an electric sedan in 2011. More details will follow as Ford releases them, probably just before the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next month.