A lot will depend on pricing, something carmakers usually won't announce until just before a car enters production.
Chrysler LLC's first electric car will probably be the Dodge Circuit, a two-seat sports car. According to papers the now-bankrupt carmaker filed with the Treasury Dept., we'll see this car - or something like it - in Dodge showrooms late next year.
Around the same time, Ford will roll out a more mainstream option, an electric version of the Ford Focus compact car.
The biggest factor limiting sales of electric cars will be their range. These cars will have a total range of about 100 miles on a full battery. While that's much further than most Americans travel on a typical day, it means most families won't want an electric car as their only vehicle.
Despite limited sales, electric cars will be credited with triple-digit fuel economy, giving a big boost to corporate averages.
NEXT: Range-extended electric - Chevrolet Volt
