Electric cars can be affordable (especially when you compare what people will drop on a new huge SUV), the problem is you have to build it yourself. An entry level conversion with highway capabilities can be done for around $5,000 on top of a base vehicle, which with some looking you can probably find one with a blown engine for dirt cheap.

I converted a 92 Saturn and granted with lead acid batteries it's only got maybe a 40 mile range, but for tooling around town it's great and I get to keep the miles off of my Civic. I've had it running since September and I have quite literally not started the other car for a week at a time. If things work out and I can arrange charging I will be driving it to school (26 mile commute each way) here this next semester!