Honda unveils hybrid plans

Honda has confirmed plans for its latest hybrid vehicles, which are expected to be added to its range next year.

The firm’s Honda CR-Z is slated for a February 2010 release in Japan, with details of a launch in Britain to be announced later this year.

Takanobu Ito, the company’s chief executive, said: "I think everyone is going to go the way of hybrids. Bringing hybrids quickly to customers will be a major focus of our activities."

The CR-Z is expected to be able to go from zero to 62mph in nine seconds and deliver 55 mpg.

Honda also revealed it will launch a petrol-electric Jazz model by the end of next year.

...while Nissan banks on electric cars

Nissan is gambling on a future car market dominated by electric vehicles rather than the petrol/battery hybrids currently being developed by its rivals, Toyota and Honda.

Nissan aims to revive its fortunes by becoming the first car maker to mass produce an electric vehicle. It will unveil its new electric car later this summer before full-scale production begins in 2012.

Nissan chief executive Carlos Ghosn said “We are the only one working to mass-market EVs [electric vehicles] and investing for mass marketing – which is a risk, but we think it’s a bet in the right direction.”

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “Nissan will be hoping that their electric car will do for alternative-fuelled cars what the Model T Ford did for petrol-powered vehicles.”

Nissan’s luxury car arm, Infiniti, will market a rear-wheel drive petrol/electric hybrid from next year. The technology was previewed in the Essence concept car that Infiniti revealed for the first time globally at the Geneva Motor Show last March.

• A fast electric car that works
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• Tesla S electric saloon revealed

What is the ETA?

The ETA is an ethical organisation providing motorists and cyclists with carbon-neutral breakdown cover and insurance products – including a specialised service for electric vehicles.