NIssan To Bring Electric Car To U.S. in 2010

The Nissan Motor Company (NISA.BE) has thrown its hat into the ring, joining the competition to introduce an electric car to the marketplace.

The company has said it will begin selling an all-electric vehicle in the U.S. and Japan in 2010, followed by a range of vehicles to be sold globally in 2012.

General Motors (NYSE: GM) plans to begin production of its Chevrolet Volt in 2010, and Toyota (NYSE: TM) also expects to introduce a plug-in hybrid that year–both vehicles use internal combustion engines in addition to electric drive-trains.

John O’Dell, senior editor at the auto Web site GreenCarAdvisor.com was quoted in a New York Times article: "Nissan is upping the ante tremendously. They are the first to put it on the line and say we’re going to have an all-electric vehicle for a certain market by a certain date."

Mitsubishi Motors (MMO.BE) is also testing an all-electric sub-compact car, currently called iMiev (Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle). Reportedly the company plans to begin sales to the general public by the end of 2009.

And on Monday, Renault (RNL.F) unveiled its electric vehicle in Israel, where it will play the central role for a nationwide rechargeable program, devised by California-based startup Project Better Place. The company has suggested the vehicles could arrive in the U.S. within two years.

Tesla Motors begins limited deliveries of its high-end electric vehicle this year.

Nissan offered no other specific details about the planned all-electric vehicles.