I plan to buy a Nissan Leaf electric car. Will my car insurance rates be really high because it's electric?

Believe it or not, car insurance rates might actually be lower.

Because the vehicles are so new, there's little claims history, so it's too soon to say for sure how much they will cost insurers. But a variety of factors are in your favor.

As you know, electric cars run on battery power, but unlike hybrid vehicles, they have no gas engines for backup. Electric vehicles could play a role in reducing pollution and decreasing our dependence on oil and gas.

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Like the early hybrid vehicles, electric cars will probably attract highly educated, conservation-minded drivers who aren't likely to take risks on the road and rack up a bunch of speeding tickets.

The cars will likely be used for short commutes and errand running around town, versus long trips because of range limitations and the lack of public areas for charging the batteries. This will limit the number of miles driven--a big plus when it comes to favorable car insurance premiums. A variety of car insurance companies are now offering discounts for verified low mileage.

Despite the new technology that makes electric cars possible, the vehicles' engines are actually based on simple mechanics with few moving parts, compared to gas engines in other vehicles, so they'll be relatively inexpensive to repair.

Car insurance rates are based on a variety of factors, including the value of the vehicle, the cost of repairing it, how many miles it is driven and the type of driver it attracts. Of course, your driving record will be an important part of the equation as well.

For more, see here's the buzz: auto insurance for electric cars.