Electric cars take charge.

• Position: TRENDS AND TRANSITIONS - Brief article

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Auto manufacturers are steering car buyers this year to the Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan Leaf. And electric models from BMW, Ford, Honda, Mitsubishi and Toyota are coming out in 2012. With the help of a one-time federal electric vehicle tax credit--ranging from $2,500 to $7,500--and 13 state tax credits and rebates, buyers are likely to be snapping up electric vehicles as soon as they come out.

Powered by rechargeable batteries, these vehicles can be plugged in at home or at public charging stations. Although they can travel 100 to 200 miles before needing to be recharged, it can take four to six hours to recharge them. Consumers may be shocked if they buy them but find few charging facilities available.

Twenty states have tax credits, grants or loans to promote the development of charging stations, which can be run by independent owners or local governments. Currently, most public charging stations are free. Owners have the option, however, to charge a fee for using them.

To help jump-start the market, Coulomb Technologies, along with Chevrolet...