'Fuel battery' could take cars beyond petrol

A new approach to storing electrical energy can store more energy than gasoline in the same volume, and could help extend the range of electric vehicles. But some experts say other approaches are more practical.
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Mitsubishi’s I MiEV Electric Car coming in 2009

With soaring energy prices and better than expected public interest, Mitsubishi has decided to offer the I MiEV Electric Car 1 year ahead of schedule in Japan. The i MiEV is powered by a compact 47 kW electric motor (133 lb-ft of torque) and a 330V, 16 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Top speed of the i MiEV is 130 kph (81 mph), with a range of up to 160 km (100 miles). No word on charging times. They are not cheap. Mitsubishi Motors will set the price at around 4 million yen. (About $40,000 with today’s exchange rate) Government subsidies for low-emission vehicles will help to reduce the actual retail price for the vehicle in Japan to an estimated 3 million yen [US$28,000]. These cars are great (I want one) but at close to 4 x the price of their standard fossil fueled sibling, (the I MiEV is base on a Kei car already in production) I don’t see deep market penetration until prices become competitive even considering the gas savings.
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The Electric Car Lives

Think Global, a Norwegian upstart plotting a U.S. invasion via pint-size, affordable electric cars. Think has been selling gas-free, Lilliputian city cars in Europe and will start peddling them to fuel-crunched Americans in 2009. The company's newly formed North American division has high hopes for Think's existing models—and even higher ones for the upcoming Th!nk Ox, a concept unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show earlier this year.
Ox is a preview of Think's next-generation production vehicle, due out in 2011. Roughly the size of a Toyota (TM) Prius, the Ox can travel between 125 and 155 miles before needing a recharge, and zips from zero to 60 miles per hour in about 8.5 seconds. Its lithium-ion batteries can be charged to 80% capacity in less than an hour, and slender solar panels integrated into the roof power the onboard electronics. Inside, the hatchback includes a bevy of high-tech gizmos such as GPS navigation, a mobile Internet connection, and a key fob that lets drivers customize the car's all-digital dashboard. Pricing has yet to be announced, but the company's current vehicles cost less than $25,000.
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