Some are saying that the electric car is dead, even before it has started.
With an infrastructure that doesn't provide sufficient charging points, some manufacturers are beginning to doubt the potential of the electric car, as well as other Alternative Fuelled Vehicles (AFV). Browse Motortorque for What are Alternative Fuelled Cars?
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However, as there are more electric vehicles on the road than ever, each manufacturer has at least considered a potential AFV, whether this is because of cost efficiency or popularity in the public eye.
The common trend with some manufactures, in-particular premium manufactures like Jaguar, is that low emitting engines are not on top of its list of customer satisfaction priorities as the majority of people who are willing to pay for a Jaguar tend not to worry about a few hundred pound here or there.
This then raises the question is it worth investing in green technologies, and if so why?
Volkswagen pushes ahead with EVs
Volkswagen are presently pressing ahead with plans to launch all-electric cars based on some of its current range.
By 2013 Volkswagen is set to launch an EV version of its Up city car, called the e-Up, followed closely by a similarly run Golf Blue-e-motion.
Other electric vehicles on the cards for Volkswagen include the E-Bugster concept, a roadster version of the Beetle first revealed at the 2012 Beijing Motor Show.
Speaking just prior to this Motor Show, the head of Research & Development for Volkswagen, Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, said: 'We hope that hybrid and electric drive cars make their breakthrough'.
Audi backs away from EVs
The Volkswagen-owned Audi brand has showcased numerous electric car concepts in the past couple of years. Until recently Audi even had two alternative-fuel cars scheduled for production and worldwide sale. The planned models included an electric version of the A2 mini-MPV and the A1 e-tron, a petrol-electric hybrid.
However during June 2012 reports in the media found that Audi had scrapped the A2 electric and are expected to discard the A1 e-tron as well. Several reasons have been cited for this sudden change in plans.
Reports suggest that a lack of consumer demand along with concerns over high production costs and the prices of these upcoming models have persuaded Audi to back away from EVs. It's also been suggested that the bosses at Audi have been put off by the low volume of sales for electric cars in the current climate.
BMW 'i' concepts
The BMW 'i' range is expected to launch at some point in 2013 and will offer an i3 hatchback and an i8 sports car.
The i3 will be a fully electric vehicle and will be able to travel up to around 90 miles on a single charge. The i8 will be a plug-in hybrid sports car and will have a power output of around 349bhp, yet return up to 100mpg.
These models may help the brand catch up with other manufactures that currently have electric cars on the market. The i8 sports car is in a whole league of its own with its 349bhp.
One thing's for certain, BMW are not afraid to invest in EV vehicles.
Mazda rejects EVs and hybrids
For more than a year now Mazda has quashed the prospects of it introducing an electric or hybrid car, taking the stance these technologies are too costly and flawed.
For the short-term at least, Mazda has opted to focus its efforts on making tradition petrol and diesel powered cars more efficient and less polluting, culminating in the introduction of Skyactiv driving technology.
The new and more-frugal internal combustion engines which feature in Mazda's Skyactiv programme is making its debut this year on the company's new CX-5 SUV.
Whilst promoting the CX-5, Mazda has even gone out of its way to have a few digs at electric and hybrid vehicles within its advertisement.
It's an uncommon but firm stance Mazda has taken regarding alternative-fuel vehicles, but the chance the company may alter this stance in the future certainly exists.
Speaking at the Los Angeles motorshow back in November 2011, the head of Mazda Takashi Yamanouchi said: 'Electric cars are for the future. By 2020, 5 per cent of car sales will be electric at best. Until obstacles such as cost, range and charging times are overcome; they are not for Mazda, at least as mainstream production vehicles'.
Renault will keep going with EVs
In terms of EVs Renault has already made a name for itself with its Fluence Z.E. saloon, Kangoo Z.E. van and two-seater Twizy, although these models are still getting off the ground.
But Renault is set to release a new EV, the Zoe at the end of the year.
Lexus not exclusively hybrid
Lexus previously had plans to sell just hybrid cars exclusively in European markets including the UK, but during this month have revealed an alteration to this stance.
Instead the company will sell models with petrol engines only as well as in hybrid powertrain set ups. This is a very similar situation to the one Lexus undertakes now and will likely benefit sales in the short term at least.
Speaking to Auto Express, deputy chief engineer Koji Sato said: 'We are working on a number of solutions to offer low CO2 emissions, and these include a small hybrid'.
GM and E-REVs
The US car giant General Motors has got behind the sale of E-REVs with this year's launch of the Chevrolet Volt and the Vauxhall Ampera in markets worldwide.
These E-REVs have essentially combined the pros of both hybrids and EVs to create a vehicle that does not run out of charge like an EV, and can travel long distances delivering frugal emissions.
However, except for Vauxhall and Chevrolet, it doesn't The key issue with these models is that they are expensive to buy, which in turn deters customers away from the brand. This may
Ford and its Bio-fuel
There are only a few manufactures producing bio-fuel vehicles as they are seen as a little obsolete alongside the likes of hybrids.
Ford is one of those manufactures as it still produces a flexi-fuel version of the Ford Focus, which uses blends of ethanol for fuelling.
Ford vouched that 50 per cent of its models produced in 2012 would be Flexi-fuel, if there was sufficient infrastructure to support them.
This may suggest that if more expenditure is put into sufficiently equipping infrastructure with charge points, then Ford will continue to produce bio-fuel vehicles.