According to BMW top execs, the two cars are just the tip of the iceberg. The carmaker is looking forward to launch their all electric vehicle that is expected to go on full production by the first half of this decade. This new electric vehicle will solely depend on the power stored in a battery pack.

BMW codenamed the development as Project Megacity which was driven by the research that kicked off with their Project i back in 2008.

The Project Megacity will be an EV that uses designs that will be specific for use in congested city streets. According to insiders, the production of the 2014 model might begin by the second half of 2013. The car is set to be assembled in the BMW plant in Leipzig, Germany.

The badge of Megacity will be a sub-brand of BMW. There were also speculations that the carmaker planned to use the Isetta name which was all about their mini cars during the 1950’s.

The details about the Megacity Vehicle is very limited since it is still in the development phase. No one can really tell how small it will be but the company hinted that it will be smaller than the current model of the Honda Fit and will take a form of a 3-door hatchback. The car will be made full or partly of carbon fiber to keep its weight down.

BMW is also collaborating with SB-Limotive for the batteries that will power the 125 kW or 170 hp electric motor.

The Kangoo be bop ZE is an improvement of the basic be bop. ZE stands for the zero emissions of the car. At first glance, it looks like it is a twin sibling of the Nissan EV-02 but it can be explained by the collaboration of Renault with the Japanese car maker.

The performance of the be bop ZE is very impressive. Its 60 horsepower engine can maximize the lithium-ion batteries and travel a distance of 100 kilometers or 62 miles in a single charge.

The test drive of the vehicle is limited to the confines of the city where it is also seen as a major contributor in reducing noise and air pollution. Electric vehicles may help make mode of transport a lot cheaper and decrease the dependence to petrol by as much as 90%.

The ZE’s efficiency can also be contributed to its excellent aerodynamic design which gives it lesser drag against the wind. The lines of the design have also combined to make the vehicle a lot smoother plus the fact that it is around 20 mm closer to the ground.

Nothing much has been revealed about the drive train of the vehicle but the battery that will be used for the production units is a product of collaboration between NEC and Nissan. The battery pack is expected to have a guaranteed capacity of 80% to 100% for the first six years of use.

Production of the Renault Kangoo be bop ZE will be by 18 months from now and the manufacturer is set to boost the capability of the car to bring passengers to 100 miles or 160 km in a single charge.

These three efforts are supposed to work towards Volkswagen’s goal this year, which is to produce safe, affordable, and emission-free large-scale electric vehicles. This was reported by Volkswagen’s Chairman of the Board of Management, Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn.

Eventually, Volkswagen will be producing lithium-ion power technology hand-in-hand with Toshiba Corporation. Based on the direction of the three projects, the Volkwagen AG is aiming for long-term plans that are bound to find their own niches in the production of affordable hybrid and electric vehicles a few years from now.

Toshiba is one of the world’s leaders in electronics and battery production, with their recent Super Charge ion Battery (SCiB) lithium-ion batteries. The SCiB is pegged to be used in hybrid and electric cars very soon. The battery line has only recently been commercialized in Japan.

The SCiB was launched last May 2008. Although it was designed primarily to power hybrid cars, this battery line was also chosen by Cannondale Sports Group as a new power module for their new eco-bikes. These electric bicycles are pegged for commercial distribution in European and North American markets.

Toshiba’s SCiB will also be installed in the Tailwind, an electric bicycle also produced by Cannondale Sports Group. This unit will be carrying the brand of Schwinn Bicycles.

The commercial introduction of the tailwind is set early this year. More on Volkswagen at Volkswagen Talk!

The S18 Electric edition has a noted range of 150 km and holds a top speed of 120 km/h. It has an in-house design, and features batteries of lithium ion phosphate (LiFePO4). The charging time is for 4-6 hours and fast charging will supply 80% capacity in just 30 minutes. It also bears the 336 volt system that permits 40 Kw motor to take it up to the winding speed of an amazing 120 kph (75 mph).

Chery Auto’s deputy general manager Yuan Tao announced that the S18 EV made use of the world’s advanced technology and offers a very effective energy conservation mechanism.

The S18 electric model will be out in the market within a year and the price will be for less than 100,000 yuan ($14,600). The initial batch of the car model will be out for government agencies for trial purposes.

As a forerunner in China’ homegrown vehicle production, Chery Auto began their creation and development of electric vehicles since 2001. Other Chinese car manufacturers are now on a race to produce innovated cars, with the hopes of producing 60,000 new energy cars by 2012.

The chosen candidates expect to get their 450 Mini E sometime this April. Thirty more vehicles will be allotted to the different cities and navies for a year, to see whether the Mini E will have a shot at the market. Ten vehicles will be given to New York and will be used as patrol cars. Los Angeles will get five vehicles.

Mini Car USA has cut the list to about 1,000 lucky people while the on-going applications are still being scrutinized by 16 dealers—eight in Los Angeles, five in New York, and three in New Jersey. Jim McDowell, Vice President of Mini USA said that the dealers will cover the lease and service of the Mini E vehicles during the year-long trial.

The applicants for the Mini E lease are required to have a locked garage for the electrical charge box that will be installed by Mini USA. Monthly lease for the vehicle is $850. Originally, there were 500 Mini E electric cars allotted for the trial program, but 50 of which were set aside for Berlin to be used as fleets for an energy supplier.

Mini USA’s parent company BMW AG is set to determine if an electric city car will have a share in the automobile market. So far, the Mini E electric car is the pioneer product of BMW’s Munich-based Project I which build substitute powertrains for city driving.

Musk stressed that Daimler is looking at this joint project very seriously. Last year, Daimler brought the Smart fortwo to the United States during the time when gas prices skyrocketed. It reached more than 24,000 in sales, at US$12,000. The two-seater call is less than 9 feet long and carries a three-cylinder engine that produces 41 mpg (5.7 liters per 100 kilometers) during highway driving.

Musk didn’t reveal the price of the electric counterpart but Daimler spokeswoman Julia Engelhardt confirmed that it will be available in the market in late 2009. Musk further added that the partnership with Daimler was not exclusive and that they are looking forward to work with other automakers.

“Nothing can be further from the truth. We’ve actively sought to work with major car companies to supply them with electric powertrain technology,” Musk said. He subtly added that the Tesla Roadster Sport will be out in June with an enhanced 0-60 mph acceleration to 3.7 seconds.

Aside from the sharp looking appearance and the obvious fuel efficiency, the Tesla Roadster sports many other positive features. A normal gasoline driven vehicle requires many parts to make the car ignite and the motor run. The Tesla, on the other hand, only has a rotor so one of the biggest advantages is not having parts break down and the expense of being repaired. In addition to fewer replacement parts, the battery of the Tesla replaces the fuel tank of traditional vehicles. Eliminating the need for gas makes this battery cost efficient and much cleaner to use. At the same time, it is high powered with the ability to deliver power allowing the roadster to go from zero to sixty in four seconds.

Further, the motor, approximately the size of a watermelon, has been designed to store energy for propelling the vehicle rather than heating up the car needlessly expending precious energy. The transmission works like a manual but is easier to manage much like an automatic. All of these points help to make the car more conducive to positive interaction with the planet as opposed to destroying it.

Looks a little like a Lotus Elise, doesn’t it?

More info on Tesla Motors dot com.