This kind of project looks a bit ambitious for the average person, but CNN has a report on how a growing number of Americans have decided not to wait for automakers to produce electric vehicles. "Not only have they rebelled against the status quo by ripping out their gas-guzzling engines and replacing them with zero-emission electric motors, they say just about anyone can do it."

Do-it-yourselfers are calling up companies such as Electric Vehicles of America, which sells vehicle parts for folks looking to convert their cars to run on electricity. Bob Batson, the owner of the Wolfeboro, New Hampshire-based business, said that business has tripled in the last year.

How are they doing it? One person interviewed was Larry Horsley, who converted an S-10 pickup into an electric car for about $12,000 (including the truck). He set up the motor to run on 20 six-volt batteries and connected it to the existing manual transmission; the combination is good for a top speed of 60 mph. "The owner] removed the vehicle's radiator to make room under the hood for a few of the batteries, [while] the rest are concealed in the back, under the pickup's bed." He also replaced components like the fuel injector with electric counterparts, and completely removed the exhaust system.

Horsley said in the article that he only gets about a 40 mile range, but "[that's] enough to get to and from work and run errands around town." He said that it took about three months to do the conversion, most of which was waiting for parts to arrivel. He's saved about $700 since switching to electric four months ago, and he also doesn't have to pay for oil or filter changes, because there isn't any engine oil or filter anymore. For more information, check out the full report.