BMW, the parent company of MINI, introduced the MINI E electric vehicle at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show this week. The MINI E is a pure electric, not a hybrid, and runs on lithium-ion batteries. Best of all, MINI is inviting 500 folks to have the opportunity to drive one on a daily basis.

As giant auto makers beg governments to bail them out of the economic crisis that has brought them to their knees, some authorities have named a price -- make greener cars to drive.

The EU has committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by a fifth by 2020 as part of efforts to curb the warming of the Earth's climate which scientists warn could have a devastating impact, hitting poor countries hardest.