Chrysler Opts For All-Electric Cars Rather Than Plug-Ins

When you're No. 3, you've got to do something.

At the Detroit auto show this week, Chrysler showed off three green car concepts, including an all-electric one called the Zeo that will go from zero to sixty in 5.7 seconds and hit 130 miles per hour. The car can also go 240 miles on a single charge.

Many of the other major carmakers--Toyota, General Motors--are concentrating on plug-in hybrids and other types of alternative fuel cars far more than all-electric cars. Batteries cost a lot and don't have the energy density of liquid fuels, according to many. As a result, all-electrics could be a tougher sell. To date, most of the activity in all-electric cars has come from start-ups.

But both Nissan and Chrysler are touting all-electric vehicles. It's probably no coincidence that the two also trail their main domestic competitors. Nissan wants to come out with an all-electric by 2011 and 2012. Chrysler, meanwhile, set up a group called Envi last year to explore and develop different types of electric cars.

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