Oil prices continue to zoom and the industrialized world continues to reel, but one benefit to the world is a great fueling of innovation. Portugal, for example, has just signed a pact with the French carmaker Renault and its Japanese partner Nissan that will make it the global trendsetter in electric cars.

The country is in a state of "petrol shock" since it imports all of its fuel, but it has determined that it is "not going to stand still." Portugal's Prime Minister Jose Socrates has announced a national public-private network of recharging stations for electric "fill-ups."

If it works, the plan could be a model for the global adoption of zero-emission electric cars. Socrates foresees electric vehicles on a par with gasoline vehicles in performance and price, with a driving range to satisfy 90 percent of the nation's drivers — as well as a clean and quiet Portugal.

Attention General Motors: Portugal is grabbing the lead in this area, but you've been working on that electric Volt. So, uh ... how's it coming?

Questions can be sent to Jim Parks at jrparks@mac.com. To find out more about Jim Parks and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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