Continuing the 'green' theme from the Geneva Motor Show, there were a series of announcements regarding electric vehicle development from some of Europe's leading car makers, including Peugeot-Citroen, Renault, Volkswagen and General Motors, with the results aimed firmly at the European fleet market.
Among developments revealed at the Show, PSA/Peugeot-Citroen announced plans to sell an electric car in Europe next year; Nissan said it will launch electric cars in Europe next year with different business models in different countries; Volkswagen announced a collaboration with Toshiba to develop a range of electric engines; and General Motors announced it will launch its first electric car - the Ampera - in 2012.
PSA's electric plans centre around an agreement with Mitsubishi to develop an electric car for the European market, based on an i MiEV four-door car, which goes on sale in Japan this summer.
The car will be sold under the Peugeot brand starting in late 2010 alongside a European version of the i MiEV, which Mitsubishi will market. As part of the agreement, Mitsubishi will offer PSA its electric expertise. PSA brings European manufacturing capacity and experience with zero-emission vehicles.
Nissan revealed at the Geneva Show that it will launch electric cars in Europe next year with different business models in different countries.
Andy Palmer, newly appointed head of Renault-Nissan's global electric vehicle business unit, said Nissan and Renault were exploring options where both car and battery are leased, or where just the battery - which costs around € 8,000 - is leased.
Nissan's electric cars will be a mixture of standalone battery vehicles and adaptations of existing models.
Not wishing to miss out in the electric vehicle market, Volkswagen has announced it will be working with Toshiba on the development of electric motors and accompanying power electronics for future vehicles. Chairman Martin Winterkorn wants the company to be "the first manufacturer to provide an emissions-free, affordable and safe large-scale production electric vehicle".
Electric models, including the forthcoming CNG-powered 1.4-litre TSI Ecofuel Passat, are apparently just around the corner.
GM, meanwhile, unveiled the Opel/Vauxhall Ampera, which is the European-market version of the Chevrolet Volt. The four-door, five-seat car is electrically-driven, thanks to a lithium-ion battery pack located centrally.
It can travel up to 60km before a small engine, which will run on conventional petrol or E85 bio-ethanol, fires up to act as an on-board generator and recharges the batteries, giving it a total range of over 500 km before refuelling.
GM says the Ampera will be well suited to European driving conditions. According to research conducted by the car manufacturer, about 80% of drivers travel less than 50 km each day.
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