BMW is keen to offer eco-friendly options to the world and a decision has been made to assemble the electric cars at the Leipzig facility. BMW chose the facility for its flexibility and capability for increased capacity. Models like the ActiveE, an electric variant of the 1series, will be produced in limited lumbers up front and then the Megacity EV will be rolled out in 2013. While the assembly will be in Leipzig spare parts will also be built in Wackersdorf and Landshut while the Li-on batteries will come from SB LiMotive which is joint venture between Samsung and Bosch. Megacity will be a battery laden commuter and carbon fiber usage will ensure high economy courtesy of the low overall weight.

Mercedes is keen to expand its green bandwagon and the battery electric vehicle Evo is one of its important members. Mercedes has confirmed the production of the first 100 Evo units later this year and if the EV is a success, the German behemoth will manufacture 2,000 units more in the future. The first 100 customers to receive the car are primarily fleet operators and institutions, which are a part of a limited test run. 20 customers will be lucky enough to even get the delivery of the Vito in 2010. The EV Vito uses a 32 kWh lithium-ion battery which gives the commuter an overall range of 130km and it is powered through a 90kW electric motor. The Evo has an electronically limited top seed of 80km/h which is restricted to site urban environments.

The green minded have another reason to smile as the French from Citroen have announced that their C-Zero electric vehicle concept will actually see daylight by the end of 2010. Powered by a permanent magnet synchronous motor that outputs 64 bhp and 180Nm of torque, the C-Zero also gets a 16kWh energy boost from a 330-volt lithium-ion battery. All these help it reach 100km/h in 15 seconds and give the car a 130 km range — enough for your daily commuting.

The new Citroen C-Zero EV only takes 6 hours to fully charge at 220V and only 30 minutes on a 400V plug if you can settle with only 80-percent. Fitted with ABS, electric windows, air conditioning, ESP and six airbags, the new C-Zero is expected to hit the road by the end of 2010. [via WCF]

Nissan has always been unsure about the success its alternative-fuel car in the US but it has in store is bound to change the trend next year. And, the confidence oozes from the fact that the Nissan Leaf (its first pure-electric car) will be a US only model. The design form belongs to the category of a front-drive C-segment Hatch which can seat four to five people. The company has great emphasis on the ability of this car which can behave an as everyday option rather than some specialty with its 100-mile range. Nissan believes that this range should be ample given the number of people who drive less than those 100 miles in s day (the figure stands at 80%).

A lot of emphasis has been laid on the design to ensure that the appearance is unique but not something bizarre or strange. The rarity of the car also lies in its powertrain as it churns out 90 kW of power using a array of thin, laminated lithium ion cells, while it’s front-mounted electric motor delivers 80 kW with 208Nm of torque. This helps the car clock 140km/h when the throttle is choked to the floor.

It’s not a surprise anymore that the world economy is facing recession, and the market evolutions all over the world are not favorable to those that buy. That’s the same idea with oil. For the last 8 to 12 months oil managed to reach up to $145 (and more) which brought higher prices for the fuel we put in our cars.

Therefore, car manufacturers are trying to keep up with the trend and come up with modern hybrid technologies that will increase the mpg, or with electric vehicles that became fashionable lately. Knowing that Audi already tried the market with their A2 (back in the days), that makes me thing they will probably be into this electric vehicle thing with a strong position.

Our friends at WCF managed to come up with a rendered design of what it may look like. With an elevated floor, some chrome and lacquer finishes, LEDs and fiber optics in the lights and some fancy wheels, the new to come Audi EV could be a real success.