The buzz about to hit the streets is about all you'll hear from a new car made in China.

It's silent.

It emits no pollution.

And it uses no gas.

miles automotive

This all-electric car is headed for roads in the northwest soon.

The world's newest all electric car will soon be available at only one showroom in the Northwest.

But it will not carry a familiar brand name.

Ron Tonkin dealerships in Portland has taken delivery of five Miles ZX40s all electric vehicles. 500 Miles cars have been delivered to the United States.

Tonkin gave KGW-TV a sneak peak and a test drive.

The zippy 4-seat version sprints from a dead stop. The electric motor may have only 5.6 horsepower but the 49 foot pounds of torque provide its pep.

However it has limits.

The car does a top speed of 25 miles per hour. It needs re-charging after 70 miles of driving.

It's not legal on freeways. They are legal on Oregon roads rated up to 35 m.p.h.

Jon Geffen, the General Manager of Tonkin alternative fuel vehicles says, "the market is hungry for smaller cars that use little or no fossil fuel."

He blanches at a comparison between the Miles and a golf cart.

"No, this is a car," says Geffen. "What you have is a car with safety features in it."

The Miles relies on a chassis from the Daihatsu Move and has passed European crash tests and meets U.S. federal safety standards.

The Miles is manufactured by China's Tianjin Qingyuan Electric Vehicle company, relies on a chasis from Diahatsu, and is distributed in the U.S. by Miles Automotive of Malibu, California.

It has passed European crash tests and meets U.S. federal safety standards.

The Miles ZX40s includes standard features like an AM/FM radio with CD, a heater, and retractable three-point seat belts in two and four-door versions.

It does not include power-consuming items like air conditioning or powered windows or power steering.

With its limited range and speed Geffen believes the car is ideal for large business or university campuses, hospitals, prisons or short city commutes on surface streets.

Miles Automotive says it has a larger sedan currently undergoing safety testing. It should run up to 80 miles per hour and go 250 miles between charges. To refuel the Miles requires only a standard 110-volt outlet to recharge its six batteries.

As a fossil fuel free car, the Miles not only uses no gas, it produces no pollution. "It's a great thing for the environment," says Geffen.

The ZX40s lists at $16,500 for the two-seater and $16,950 for the four-seater.

Tonkin has not yet set a date to begin selling the Miles but expects brisk demand when it does.

MORE: See the all-electric car