-- Subaru of America Inc. continues to work on its next-generation all-electric car, the R1e, which uses much smaller batteries than today's electric cars. The vehicle's three batteries are each the size of briefcases, smaller and lighter than the batteries now commonly laid out in a heavy chassis under the car. C. Michael Whelan, a Subaru spokesman, said the cars are in trial production in Japan today using the company's highly-efficient manganese lithium batteries. The batteries will be modular allowing them to be added as needed to power larger vehicles, he said. The new batteries also last longer -- up to 10 to 15 years, compared to seven to 10 years for today's batteries. 'That's a big breakthrough,' because replacing batteries is expensive and a drawback for potential electric vehicle buyers, he said.

The R1e, which has a range of about 75 miles before needing a recharge, is expected to be on sale in Japan in the spring of 2007, but is not yet slated for U.S. distribution. 'With the advancements in electric power, I think there may be greater acceptance of that here in the U.S.' in the future, Whelan said.

-- General Motors Corp., which showcased its hydrogen-powered Sequel concept car. The vehicle features fuel cells that mix hydrogen and oxygen to create electricity for fuel. The car has electric motors inside the wheel hubs and drive-by-wire capabilities, and is being used to develop technologies that could find their way into production cars, said GM spokesman Tom Wilkinson.

For such cars to be viable, however, the cost of fuel cells will have to drastically fall, while hydrogen fueling facilities will have to become more available, he said. 'There's a lot of interest in it,' Wilkinson said. 'Longterm, it really does look like the best way to reduce the impact [of vehicle emissions] on the environment, particularly in crowded urban areas. The only emissions from the vehicle is water vapor.'

GM is hoping to conduct proof-of-concept fleet testing with hydrogen powered vehicles by 2010.