All the News, Reviews, Guides and Reports on Electric Cars

While major carmakers have dragged their heels on delivering the next big breakthrough on fuel efficiency, the plug-in hybrid, a small group of California entrepreneurs and innovators have made it possible for consumers to convert existing hybrids into plug-in cars running mostly on electricity. Yet, later this week, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is expected to adopt new regulations that could put many of those conversion companies out of business.

There wasn’t a V8 to be heard, full-size SUVs were banished from sight—at least for media days—and the words “electric car” and “hybrid vehicle” were on every carmaker’s video screen. We previewed the show a few days ago; now we'll recap the results, breaking down the top green vehicles into three categories: Expect It, Doubt It, and Forget It.

Several sources inside General Motors told BusinessWeek that the company will show a Cadillac two-door plug-in series hybrid at next week’s Detroit Auto Show. According to BusinessWeek, the concept vehicle—a new model similar to the CTS sedan although “smaller” and “bolder”—suggests that the company plans to use the Volt’s electric-drive technology in other vehicles.

Aptera, which had planned to deliver its three-wheeled electric car to customers last month, has now postponed the production launch for almost a year. Production models of the Aptera 2e (formerly known as Type-1), an all-electric vehicle with a range of 100 miles, were to have been delivered by the end of 2008. The company now expects to launch volume production in October 2009.

That Bible for smart shoppers, Consumer Reports tested a Toyota Prius that had been converted to a plug-in hybrid. Did the no-nonsense, grimly methodical magazine give the plug-in a thumbs-up? “At almost $11,000,” the magazine noted, “the plug-in conversion clearly won’t save consumers money overall”—though they deigned to declare the plug-in technology “viable.”

Lotus is the latest carmaker to announce plans for a high-performance electric vehicle. If the British carmaker can deliver on its plans, it will compete directly against the Tesla Roadster and Dodge EV, two electric sports cars for which Lotus already supplies a chassis.

Toyota is secretly developing a car powered by solar cells mounted on the vehicle’s roof, according to a report today from Japan’s Nikkei newspaper. The report said the automaker hopes the vehicle will eventually be totally powered by the solar cells—but that would take many years.

Fisker has announced a new concept vehicle called the Sunset or Karma S, which appears to be a plug-in hybrid convertible. It will debut at the Detroit Auto Show.

A group of US battery companies teamed up this week to boost American manufacturing of lithium ion batteries. The new alliance aims to compete with Asian companies that currently dominate the lithium ion battery market. The newly formed National Alliance for Advanced Transportation Battery Cell Manufacture will create one or more manufacturing and prototype development centers in the United States.