Ed Begley, Jr.'s new green reality show, Living With Ed, premiered on HGTV on the first of the year. While I'm sure most of our readers would be interested in a lot of the environmental issues Mr. Boba Fett (yes, he played Boba Fett on the radio back in the day) bounty hunts on his show each week, it's this weekend's episode that should hold particular appeal to green car enthusiasts.

Remember how Ed was at SEMA last fall? AutoblogGreen spoke with him briefly there and apparently he was filming part of his show at the expo (hey, maybe we're in the background somewhere). After talking about EVs and high-tech batteries (Ed was promoting Altairnano and Phoenix SUVs at SEMA), Ed goes to visit Jay Leno and they talk about alternative energy cars, including the eco-jet car that is currently on display at the NAIAS.

All in all, this show should wrap up a few varying threads we've had here on AutoblogGreen into one 30-minute bit. If you've got cable, the show'll be in HGTV Sunday (the 14th) at 10 p.m. If you don't, keep your eye out for something on YouTube early next week. I think you're able to watch episodes on the HGTV site, but it is loading incredibly slow for me and I don't have the patience to find out.

[Source: Sarah Hofstetter for HGTV]

As one of the most recognized environmental advocates around, Ed Begley Jr. can be a lightning rod for criticism and is often a target for jokes on late-night television. Sometimes his enthusiasm comes off as preaching; but he is true to the cause, living an environmentally-focused lifestyle that includes using solar power for his house. As for transportation, Begley has owned numerous electric vehicles, including a converted VW Rabbit, a GM EV1 and a Toyota RAV4. He also owns a Toyota Prius for long trips. AutoblogGreen caught up with Begley at the SEMA Show where he was promoting the introduction of the Phoenix Motorcars sport-utility truck, an electric vehicle that could go on the market next year. Begley has a brisk yet pleasant manner. He speaks with confidence and knowledge about products that can harm or help the environment. During the Phoenix press conference, he stressed the economic advantages of owning an electric vehicle or hybrid over the environmental impact of importing oil from the Middle East. My first question posed the possibility that Hollywood personalities can help promote green awareness or they can be perceived as being elitist. Begley took the conversation from there and rarely let up.

Begley: There is that risk. We don't want to appear elitist or be elitist in any fashion. But if we can provide a vehicle for someone somewhere to get them out of a limo, that's a good thing. Or provide a vehicle for someone on low income and save them money, they'll embrace it, too. You're going to save money in the long run. I've saved so much money with that Prius I bought for $20,500 in August 2000. It has 120,000 miles and all I've paid for are lube and oil and about $500 to $700 for the regular service appointments. I've never had a car so cost effective, ever.

(Read the rest after the jump)

Ed Begley Jr. says the aftermarket should look at electric vehicles and hybrids. While promoting the Phoenix Motorcars sport-utility truck, Begley acknowledged that electric vehicles have "lacked style," and that the aftermarket should embrace the segment. "We need SEMA. We need to work with all the aftermarket to give style to this vehicle," he said, noting that SEMA members have the "style, innovation and engineering" necessary to customize electric vehicles and hybrids.

Begley didn't waste a second of his press conference, touting the advantages of EVs and hybrids. He acknowledged that an electric vehicle can't perform some tasks but for most chores it is reliable. "You don't need a sledgehammer to put in a carpet tack," he explained. "I've been driving electric vehicles since 1970. I know they work and they've come a long way. If you can get the style and performance and do it cleaner, I say why not."

Officials from Phoenix Motorcars and Altairnano, the manufacturer of the NanoSafe battery system, were on hand during the brisk, unscripted press conference. Dan Reigert of Phoenix said a production run of 500 units is planned for 2007. Since the vehicle is based on a Korean-made chassis, the technology may be transferred to Korea for expanded production. The goals include 6,000 units in 2008 followed by 20,000 in 2009 and 100,000 in 2010. Besides the truck, Phoenix wants to develop an SUV.