The main focus of the autoshow is about mobility and harnessing alternative sources of energy. So aside from the showcased normal cars, the spotlight was on electric cars, fuel cell vehicles, and hybrids plus everything you can think of about reducing fuel consumption and carbon footprint.

Honda had the biggest booth during the show which displayed their upcoming products and concept cars. This includes the Micro Commuter, AC-X, and the Concept EV-STER. The EV-STER is really an eye candy and represents the direction the Japanese car manufacturer wants to take. It looks really fast even as it stands still.

The Honda Concept EV-STER is a two-seater ride which relies on battery and controlled by the driver using a twin joystick. Output is pegged at 78 horsepower and has a 150-kilometer range. This ride is definitely the eco-friendly ride Honda wants to make in the future and we heard that it will be hitting the production line.

It can be very exciting if truly this all electric vehicle rolls out the showrooms. It has a great potential showing good looks and performance which is very hard to achieve. Some great green cars we have now try to do it like the rides from Tesla, concept E-Tron from Audi, and there are even hints that carmakers want the KERS on production cars. The EV-STER by Honda has really a lot of promise of success. It has a lot more to offer compared to the Honda CR-Z which we think lacks the sporty attitude.

According to sources, the Honda EV-STER may come as early as next year and may come with an all electric version and a conventional engine that runs on gas.

Aside from the development and production of the two environmentally-friendly lines of vehicles, the GM plant will also open up at least 2000 jobs for plenty of qualified American assembly workers. Because of the pending projects, economic experts also foresee more employment opportunities coming from service providers and domestic parts providers.

The Fisker projects are also set to contribute to reduced carbon emmicions and cleaner air. According to Secretary Chu, the release of these hybrid cars should put the production of American environmentally-friendly vehicles at the forefront of automotive design and production.

Initially, the money from the loan will be used by Fisker for qualifying engineering costs. This will be conducted in Irvine California, with the engineers designing tools and equipment and working on efficient manufacturing processes. The Karma should hit the showrooms in 2010, with the Project Nina hitting the assembly lines by late 2012.

These Fisker cars will run on electric engines which get their power from rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries. Once the power is depleted, the car will then use and efficient, gas-powered engine.

Both lines of hybrid vehicles will have an all-electric tailpipe, emission free range of forty to fifty miles when they’re fully charged. The cars can be conveniently charged at home, and the production of these vehicles is set to reduce America’s dependence on oil.

The CEO of Nissan, Carlos Ghosn, tries to convince everyone that it might not be the picture of the near future. Automakers recently had a convention in Michigan to discuss the future of the industry including the upcoming technologies and vehicles.

During the briefing, the spotlight was on the hybrids from GM and also on the EV being developed by Nissan. A lot of car manufacturers hinted that they are also developing their own electric vehicles but none of them believed that EVs will dominate the market anytime soon.

The forecast of the Nissan topman suggests that EVs will get a small chunk of the global car industry with 10% of sales in a matter 10 years. Through that time period further engine technologies and possibilities will be enhanced or be developed.

Product development though of car makers is still on hybrids, diesels, and the usual gas run engines. No one denies though that EVs will get a foothold into the market. So for now, Nissan and other car makers will sell what can sell and continue to experiment and perfect their EV concepts.