Getting Ready For Electric Vehicles

Detroit is being transformed from the "Motor City" into the "Electric Motor City" this week, as the Center for Auto Research holds its second annual "Business of Plugging In" conference.

Brett Smith, who is co-director of manufacturing, engineering and technology at the center says they aim to answer one very important question.

"How do we create a business model, a value chain, so people can actually make money building these things, and we can get vehicles people really want to buy in the coming decade or so."

This comes as the first new electric vehicles—the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf—are just weeks from going on sale.

"Last year, there was kinda this energy about all this new excitement about the electric vehicle. This year, they are actually hitting the road," said Smith.

(Jeff Gilbert talks with Brett Smith on today's Worldwide Automotive Report.)

Panelist will tackle a number of important issues involving electric vehicles, including getting the cost down, and the range up. Representatives of public utilities are here, as they deal with the anticipated increase in demand for electricity.

Those attending the conference, had the opportunity to drive a number of electric vehciles.

"It's very quiet, very powerful. Interior finish is excellent," said Ted Grozier, after spending some time behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Volt.

The Volt had some of the longest lines.

"The handling was great," said Jan Choike, who also drove the Volt. "It's as good as any sedan I've driven so far. The acceleration was, for an electric vehicle, not knowing what to expect, I was impressed with it. Overall, I think it's an excellent vehicle."

The ride and drive also included a number of other electric vehicles, among them the Nissan Leaf, and early prototypes of plug-in hybrids from Ford and Toyota.

The "Business of Plugging In" conference will run through Thursday at the Renaissance Center Marriot.

(AutoBeat Reporter Jeff Gilbert will be "live blogging" tomorrow (Wednesday 10/13) as he test drives the Chevrolet Volt.)