2011: Plug-in Prius, Chevy Volt or Nissan Mixim

Plug-in parallel hybrid, plug-in series hybrid, or just electric?

In the next few years, the automotive landscape will resemble a drive from the wheat fields of Kansas into the Rockies of Colorado, dramatic change.

Hybrid vehicles will probably convert into plug-in hybrid vehicles, such as a Prius plug-in or a Chevy Volt, that will enable most commuters to go to work and back on electric power alone, with the ability to use gasoline, diesel, or a biofuel as a backup source of energy.

Others might seek a purely electric car to be used only for commuting, thus deleting the need for any backup fuel. The Nissan Mixim hopes to fulfill that need, possibly by 2011.

Car&Driver report, " The Mixim is a tiny electric car that uses lithium-ion batteries to power twin motors—one in the front, and one at the back—giving the car all-wheel drive. Regenerative braking will help keep the batteries charged while driving.

Like plenty of other European concepts, the Mixim is small. It weighs in at a scant 2100 pounds and is only 145 inches end to end, making it a full two feet shorter than a Chevrolet Aveo hatchback. Still, that low weight should help keep performance and energy efficiency high."