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

Mitsubishi will show its ultra-compact i-minicar next week at the New York International Auto Show.

Norbert Reithofer, BMW CEO, said the company will likely "make a battery-powered ecologically compatible car for the U.S. market" with a target launch date of 2012. Details beyond that general plan are sketchy.

ZAP, the California-based electric car maker, is teaming up with Colorado-based Hybrids Plus to offer plug-in conversion systems for the Toyota Prius and Ford Escape Hybrid.

General Electric will invest $24 million in two initiatives to bolster hybrid and electric car technology, including a $4 million commitment to Think, the Norwegian electric car maker formerly owned by Ford. The Think Ox is the car company's latest concept vehicle—an all-electric five-seater small SUV, promising 125 miles of range on a charge.

The goals of high performance and greater fuel efficiency were further melded this week when Lotus—the British maker of race cars—created a new research and development group solely devoted to electric and hybrid vehicles.

California-based OEMtek says it can outfit a Prius with a bigger battery pack and double its fuel economy to more than 100 miles per gallon—for a cost of $12,500.

California-based automaker ZAP has announced plans for a new electric car. The futuristic three-wheeler will be able to do 0 to 60 in 5.7 seconds with a top speed of 156 miles per hour—and cost about $30,000.

Tesla Motors may be the darling of the "take no prisoners" electric vehicle world, but the company may break from its roots with a gas-electric hybrid powertrain for its upcoming Whitestar sedan.

Johnson Controls and Saft are opening a factory to produce advanced lithium ion batteries for cars in a sign that electric and next-generation hybrid vehicles are reaching a tipping point. The factory in Nersac, France will produce up to 5,000 battery packs a year for Daimler AG—for use in the Mercedes-Benz S-class series of luxury hybrids expected to roll out in 2010.

In an exclusive interview for HybridCars.com, Dr. David Chen, general manager of General Motor’s Beijing Operation, dispels some of the myths about China's growing auto market, and explains how the Chinese government is paving the way for a hybrid future.