Similar in concept to the Chevrolet Volt, the Mitsubishi EREV will be a compact SUV similar in size to the Toyota RAV4.
Its drivetrain will be similar to the Volt’s Voltec system, with a 660cc, three-cylinder petrol engine acting as a generator producing electricity for the EREV’s lithium ion batteries.

A range of 40 miles is claimed on electric power alone, with more than 200 miles possible with the help of the generator.
Mitsubishi is confident of putting its EREV into production by the end of 2010 because it already produces the i-MiEV city car, which shares the same lithium ion battery technology.

The new five-passenger Buick crossover is expected to be the first commercially available plug-in hybrid sport-utility vehicle by a major automaker, and would follow GM’s heavily touted Chevrolet Volt plug-in car into the market.

GM Vice Chairman Tom Stephens, announcing plans for the Buick hybrid at an industry conference in Traverse City, Michigan, on Thursday, said the company’s “robust” balance sheet following its bankruptcy restructuring gives it flexibility to focus on product development.

“We’ve been given the opportunity of a lifetime and we know the hard part is just beginning. We have to convince consumers to give us a chance,” Stephens said.

Major automakers, including GM and Toyota Motor Corp, have been ramping up plans for a range of electric vehicles to meet higher U.S. fuel-economy standards and increased consumer demand for fuel-efficient vehicles. More