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President Barack Obama took a break from NATO meetings in Portugal today and spent time on what is fast becoming one of his favorite activities - promoting electric cars.
After attending a meeting on Afghanistan, Mr Obama checked out an Opel Ampera on display at the summit site.
The electric vehicle is made by General Motors in Detroit, and will be available for sale in Europe next year.
Mr Obama did everything but kick the tyres during his inspection of the vehicle, and even slid into the driver's seat and turned on the car.
After attending a meeting on Afghanistan, Mr Obama checked out an Opel Ampera on display at the summit site.
The electric vehicle is made by General Motors in Detroit, and will be available for sale in Europe next year.
Mr Obama did everything but kick the tyres during his inspection of the vehicle, and even slid into the driver's seat and turned on the car.
He noted how quiet it was and told reporters that the electric car 'is the future.'
Mr Obama has made growth of a U.S.-based electric car battery industry a centerpiece of his economic and clean energy agenda.
He has pledged to bring one million plug-in hybrid electric vehicles to U.S. roads by 2015.
The quiet, zero-emission compact vehicle is a far cry away from the bullet-proof behemoth the president is being driven around in during his stay in Lisbon.
Safety and high-tech features include 8in thick armor-plated doors (each weighing the same as a cabin door on a Boeing 757), an independent oxygen supply and advanced fire-fighting system located in the boot, pump-action shotguns, night-vision cameras and tear-gas cannons, Obama’s own personal storage of blood, Kevlar-reinforced tires that are puncture and shred-resistant, and special steel wheels that can drive without the tire attached.
All of this comes at a heavy weight penalty, with top speed rated at 60mph (96km/h) and fuel-economy around 8 miles per gallon
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