Although most of the auto industry is using billboards and Twitter feeds to announce the oncoming battery-powered revolution, German automakers have been more circumspect. At various times, they've pooh-poohed the viability of electric vehicles and, at others, tantalized us with green supercars that will, at best, be extremely expensive and extremely limited in production. But make no mistake, the Germans are coming around, if somewhat belatedly, to the idea of electric vehicles for the masses, and to that end, they are developing a veritable alphabet soup of electric small cars that you may or may not have heard of. Here's your cheat sheet on the affordable electric cars we expect from the Fatherland.
WHAT IT IS:
An electric A1 with a rotary-engine range extender.
WHERE YOU'VE SEEN IT:
Geneva 2010.
WHEN YOU'LL SEE THE REAL THING:
2013.
WHAT IT IS:
A space-efficient electric microvan built on the same basic architecture as the Up! Unlike the original, slow-selling A2, it will be made of steel rather than aluminum.
WHEN YOU'LL SEE THE REAL THING:
2013.
WHAT IT IS:
The next step in the electric car program BMW started with the Mini E. This time, the donor car is a 1-series, with its in-line six replaced by a 168-hp electric motor.
WHERE YOU'VE SEEN IT:
Detroit 2010.
WHEN YOU'LL SEE THE REAL THING:
Leasing begins next summer in New York, Los Angeles, and possibly Washington, D.C., with current Mini E drivers getting first dibs. Less than 1000 will be produced.