How about some pretty pictures of the 2010 and 2011 EVs and a look at some of the manufacturer’s performance claims?  If you are globally responsible but still long for that personal vehicle that is beautiful on the outside (i.e., near zero emissions on some models), this article is for you.

The BugE (designed and built by Blue Sky Design of Creswell, Oregon) is a three-wheeled, all electric single-person ride which was recently described at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) as “a head-turning, rocketship-esque design.  It has a 30-40 mile range and 50 mph top speed using lead acid batteries.”  Range is dependent on the speed driven, with longer distances at lower speeds.  (20 miles at 40 mph, 30 miles at 30 mph, 40 miles at 20 mph.)  The design team claims that the BugE goes ”25 miles on the energy it takes to run a dishwasher for one load, which works out to about 1 penny per mile” and that “the BugE is simply a Model T for the 21st century”.  The BugE website encourages patrons to ”think Global, act Local, one BugE at a time” and outlines their organization as a “grassroots community-based business network” – certainly an interesting and futuristic model.

The Nissan Leaf runs 100 miles on a single charge which takes seven hours, however, a 30-minute quick charge can get batteries up to an 80% level.  Nissan claims “excluding the cost of the batteries, [the Leaf] will cost no more to buy and run than a traditional gasoline-powered car.” As the batteries are a very expensive part of this purchase, this statement is a bit disingenuous.  According to allcarselectric.com, the lithium ion battery pack will cost somewhere between $10,000 and $24,000.  Most assume it will be $10,000, but Nissan has not publicly confirmed this and/or whether they will lease the battery separately from the rest of the car.  Is this to avoid issues with the 10 year battery warranty California now requires of EV manufacturers?  The batteries are recycled, which defrays the full cost of providing a new battery pack perhaps, but no one seems to have a 10-year battery yet.  It appears the launch is delayed until late 2011 or 2012.

Green Vehicles Triac has an 80 mph top speed and up to 100-mile range with plans to sell an optional capacity battery pack to boost range by 25%.  This zero-emissions vehicle is allowed in carpool lanes with only a single occupant.  Charging is quicker than many other EVs - 6 hours for a full charge – and the manufacturer says “it is as simple as plugging in a toaster”.

Ford Focus Electric is targeted to debut in 2011 and will be built at Ford Motors’ Michigan assembly complex for all sales in North America.  Many are familiar with the vehicle from the Jay Leno Show in which it has been a ‘guest’. It will be the company’s first battery-powered electric passenger vehicle and is targeted to get up to 100 miles per charge.

Charging the Ford Focus Electric’s lithium-ion batteries will take between six to eight hours using a 220V wall outlet or longer using a 110V outlet.  It will use an interface similar to the Ford Fusion Hybrid’s “SmartGauge” display, providing information on remaining vehicle range and battery charge.

The Revenge Verde Supercar is pretty darn fast and looks it.  Its looks also landed it as a finalist in the EyesOn Design Award, considered one of the highest achievements in the auto industry.  The manufacturer is also the first to offer both General Motors and Ford powertrains to the public.  The Revenge  has a 400hp Hp2g Hybrid 10 mpge engine and runs on E85 fuel combined with its own recharge energy.  The Revenge is capable of a 0-60 in 3.5 seconds and the manufacturer claims it can attain a top speed of over 200mph.  Based on the success and interest during and after its debut, the designers are working on a high performance model of the Revenge Supercar called the RSC Blade. Parts from several supercar manufacturers are used in these models, which makes their design perhaps that much more interesting.

The Chevy Volt is pushing a lot of other people to hit their development accelerator as General Motors intends a volume roll-out at year end in 2010 “with 10’s of thousands” planned for dealers during 2011. The Volt’s range on battery power alone is about 40 miles.  Extended range between charges utilizes gas to provide an estimated 300 additional miles.  GM places the car’s MPG at 230 and energy consumption at 25 kWh- about $2.75 – for every 100 miles.  The Volt is intended to charge in eight hours on a 120-volt/15-amp outlet or in around three hours on a 240-volt/30-amp outlet.

For those of you who have been wondering how the Volt will be marketed, there’s already a Chevy Volt Song in play.  Get ahead of the curve and forbid your children to listen to it now.  You can thank me later for this video link, which is the best advertisement for beefing up arts and music education I’ve seen in years. It also documents that cheerleading has way too much influence for the good of society. Anyway, I don’t think the Macarena has any worries about being displaced, but one never knows. (It’s only 2.22 minutes long; it just seems endless.)

The Mitsubishi i Miev is a battery-powered version of the Japanese “i” minicar, which was introduced in Japan in 2006. The i-MiEV uses advanced lithium-ion propulsion batteries, and the Japanese manufacturer has limited initial unit production to allow its engineers the opportunity to address any problems that may occur. I am not sure if this makes me feel more or less confident, but Japanese auto manufacturers are very disturbed by Toyota’s problems and want to practice caution and protect what’s left of their own brands.

The Tango is intended as a commuter car (it is 5″ narrower than some motorcycles) and provides the ability to maneuver through traffic when lane splitting is allowed. According to the manufacturer, “With over 1,000 ft-lbs of torque starting at zero rpm and a 600 kW (805 hp) motor controller, the Tango accelerates from 0-60 mph in under four seconds, finishes the standing 1/4 mile in about 12 seconds at over 100 mph, and can reach over 130 mph with no gear shifting.” Its manufacturer, Commuter Cars, also claims, “Its 39-inch wide, 60-inch tall two-to-a-lane commuter car grips and handles like a top sportscar and is among the quickest in Cobo Hall, owing to the combined 804-hp and 1000-lb-ft produced by two advanced DC electric motors, each of which spins a rear wheel.” (Read more:  motortrend.com.)

The Tango’s roll cage has 4 times more side protection bars than a large SUV and uses the same structure required for race cars traveling over 200mph. Its low center of gravity – with 2,000 lbs of battery and equipment under the floor – ballasts it to achieve the rollover threshold of a sports car.

Here’s a video link from a year ago in which a Tesla customer rides in a Tango EV to a U.S.-based Tesla dealership. One narrator has a lovely British accent, but please don’t watch unless you’re ready to buy an EV.  Glistening all spit-shined (not literally) in those immaculate dealer surroundings is like having ten of your favorite movie stars poised on bar stools calling out, “Pick me!”   Well, maybe not quite, but since auto manufacturers always have beautiful women pose and lounge around their cars I thought, I can cheapen myself too.

Speaking of Tesla, the Model S is a sedan intended to provide more of the traditional ride of the American family car. Its upgraded Signature Model S will not be introduced until 2011. It promises to be a lot more expensive but fancy with a limited number of vehicles. The Model S powertrain features a liquid-cooled, floor-mounted battery pack and a single-speed gearbox. The S standard sedan costs about $4 to fully charge, is pure electric, two times as efficient as hybrids, has the powertrain is built by an EV manufacturer. It also has a 17″ info-tainment touch-screen.

To me the Tesla Roadster and the Roadster Sport are just delicious.  An average lease of the the former is about $1638 a month, but how much is your planet worth to you?  (A few more terms may apply.)

So who should win the beauty pageant? Please make your vote with a comment below.

Photos courtesy of the North American International Auto Show 2010 (www.naias.com) and Nissan, Mitsubishi, General Motors, BugE, Tesla, Green Vehicles, Revenge Design, Inc. and Ford Motors.

If you enjoyed this article, you may want to read the rest of the series:

• Electric Cars and PHEVs are Coming!
• Myth-Defying the Electric Car
• Ready to Plug in Your Tenant’s Leaf?
• A Little EV History and  Peek at the Future

Here is a link to Inhabitat’s article on the new Porsche 918 Spider and another link to Ferrari’s Hybrid Supercar unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show this week – and yes, the links do have pictures.  Ooo La La!