Electric cars no longer concepts but the real thing

"Cars like the Tesla Roadster and Chevy Volt are one reason I think the auto industry is entering one of the most fascinating decades in its history," says Angus Mackenzie of Motor Trend, a leading car enthusiast's magazine.

Don't get too excited about the Tesla for providing revolutionary change in your transportation budget. The California-produced electric roadster comes with a $100,000 price tag.

Nevertheless, the car world has not seen so much electric car hype since the electrics were dominant in the 1910s and 1920s. Today, we will give you another update on electric car hopes and dreams.

Isn't anyone concerned about the true power source when electrics are recharged? The issue is treated as a minor inconvenience, particularly be those opposed to further building of nuclear or clean coal operations or drilling for oil in our own backyard.

Anyway, here are the latest developments on electric cars or electric hybrids, domestic and abroad:

Chevrolet is still on track to produce the plug-in Volt and offer it for sale in 2010. Although other future model development has been pushed back due to the economy, the Volt is on target. The Volt is also termed a hybrid, because, when it runs out of electricity, a gasoline engine cuts in. It is said to be capable of running 40 miles on pure electricity, which should satisfy many commuters.

Chrysler surprised the industry by revealing it is considering two plug-in hybrids, the Chrysler EV and the Jeep EV. Also, the Dodge EV, an all-electric model, is under review.

BMW is seriously involved in electrics. The Mini, a division of BMW, will lease 500 electric cars for a year. The company has selected the states of New York, New Jersey and California for the consumer-based tests. The Mini E has its public introduction this month at the Los Angeles auto show. Automotive News reports the "Mini E is based on the current two-seat, three-door hatchback car. The E has a lithium ion battery for powering an electric motor with 204 hp that takes 23.6 hours to charge at 110 volts."

Nissan has another approach to testing. It plans to offer an all-electric car to fleet owners in 2010. If all goes well, a version will be offered for sales nationwide in 2012. Nissan's electric is reported to have a top speed of 75 mph and a range of 100 miles. It will require eight hours for a recharge.

Mitsubishi already has a small electric car, the iMiEV, in customer hands in Japan. The company is also working on a commercial vehicle based on the same chassis for delivery work, such as mail trucks.

At the recent Paris auto show, Subaru and Smart showed electric car variants. Smart is currently testing ForTwo models in Berlin and London. Renault showed an electric model, which is expected in 2010. But first, Renault will lease cars to electric companies. The manufacturer forecasts 100,000 sales of electrics by 2012.

In the meantime, Norway's Think, formerly owned by Ford Motor Co., is planning on selling 10,000 electric cars a year in Europe. It is said the current Think was designed by Ford.

One more insightful comment from writer Angus Mackenzie. "For the first time in almost a century, the internal-combustion engine is no longer the default powertain choice of automakers; true innovation and experimentation, not just continuous refinement and clever marketing, will be the cost of entry into the business."

George Spaulding is a retired General Motors executive and distinguished executive-in-residence emeritus at the School of Business and Economics at the College of Charleston. He can be reached at 2 Wharfside St. 2A Charleston SC 29401.