Charleston: ... here's the latest news on electric cars: The Smart ForTwo's electrical-power model will start sales here in 2010... The Chrysler 200C EV concept vehicle was shown at the Detroit Auto Show... The [GM] Volt has been scheduled for introduction in 2010... Toyota has announced it intends to start selling a brand new electric passenger car in 2012... rumors were flying last week about Magna International Inc. assembling Ford's upcoming electric model.
SFGate: [Ford] further announced plans for a battery electric commercial van next year, followed by a battery electric passenger car in 2011... Consumers are clamoring for General Motors to offer its eagerly anticipated Chevrolet Volt electric car, and the company promises that its engineers are toiling around the clock to meet a December 2010 deadline for that car's availability... Electric enthusiast darling Tesla was on hand, showing off its very limited production $109,000 two-seat sports car derived from the Lotus Elise... Chrysler showed electrified versions of several of its current production models and revealed a concept car called the Chrysler 200C, which forecasts the company's thinking for the styling of future midsize sedans while promoting the idea of electric drive... Daimler rolled out a trio of electrically powered Mercedes-Benz minicars, called Concept BlueZero...
Kiplinger: A confluence of technologies is giving plug-ins a big boost. Advanced batteries and new electronics are ready for prime time after years of research and dead-ends, says Aaron Bragman, an auto analyst with IHS Global Insight, a business consultancy. "Ethanol as a fuel to totally replace gasoline has been pushed aside as impractical for a while and hydrogen is the 'fuel of the future' and always will be," says Bragman.