The history of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) in the United States is short and unpleasant.  While as old as the automobile itself, early 20th Century electrics were unable to match the range of early gasoline-powered cars, and for the next nine decades, remained largely a sideshow.

Then, in 1996, GM rolled out the EV1. It was smart, sexy, and loved by nearly everyone who drove it. Sadly, GM decided to halt production, and the number of plug-ins on US roads fell to a meager 150. But now, major investments by established firms may herald the return of the plug-in BEV.

Aside from the Department of Energy’s $30 million investment into the private sector to help development of BEV models, major manufacturer Nissan announced plans to bring a fully-electic vehicle to market by 2010.  And domestically, American start-up Tesla Motors announced a production deal with Daimler, a world power in the auto industry.