Electric cars around the corner
Before GM canceled the Saturn line, it touted the Vue Green Line plug-in hybrid SUV as one of the company's upcoming electric cars. Now, the model's fate is unclear.
Scott R. Galvin/UPI Photo/NEWSCOM
Last week's Innovation article on electric cars charging ahead mentions that: "At least nine car companies worldwide say that by 2013 they will offer plug-in vehicles that use electric motors as their primary means of propulsion, according to Plug-in America, an activist group. Some will be all-electric drive vehicles (EV). Most will be plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) that use small gasoline engines as a backup."
For those readers who wondered how Plug-in America came up with that figure, here's the list:
GM
Chevy Volt – Demo 2009, production November 2010
Saturn Vue PHEV – 2010. Note: GM has discontinued the Saturn line and the Vue's fate in unclear.
Nissan
EV – 2010
Toyota
Plug-in Hybrid Prius – Demo 2010, production 2011
Chrysler
PHEV – 2010
EV Jeep – by 2013
EV Minivan – by 2013
EV Roadster – by 2013
Ford
Plug-in Hybrid Escape – 2012
EV Magna – 2011
BMW
e-Mini – 2009
Audi
A1 Sportback PHEV – 2011
Hyundai
PHEV Sonata – 2013
Volkswagen
PHEV Golf – 2011
Plus, there are entrepreneurial companies:
Tesla (now and 2011)
Fisker (2009)
BYD (2009)
Bright Automotive (2012)
Miles (2009)
Aptera (2009)
Persu Mobility (2011)
Myers Motors (now)
And finally, PHEV conversions from:
A123/Hymotion
Plug-in Conversions
3-Prong Power
Thanks to Jay Friedland at Plug-in America for this list. You can read the Monitor full report on coming electric vehicles here.