Daimler, Toyota and General Motors, as well as industry newcomer BYD of China showcased new electric vehicles, while several others announced plans for battery-powered cars and trucks by 2012.

Manufacturers point to buyers' preoccupations of late with tailpipe emissions linked to global warming, and soaring gasoline prices -- which have actually retreated in recent months but are trending upwards over the longterm.

"The technology is available for production" today, said Thomas Weber of Germany's Daimler, which unveiled a prototype for an electric vehicle called BlueZero.

The car will be able to drive 200 kilometers (125 miles) on a single charge, or 400 kilometers (250 miles) for a hybrid version that relies on a small combustion engine to recharge its battery.

But mass production is still "a few years" away, said Weber, pointing to two challenges that must first be overcome: making it affordable, and building public infrastructure to charge the car's batteries.

Daimler chief executive Dieter Zetsche said the company is aiming to build 10,000 of the units by 2011-2012.

Ford, meanwhile, announced plans for a small electric vehicle developed with Canadian auto parts giant Magna International, to be launched in 2011.

"Drive green," shouted its banners at the Detroit auto show to highlight its commitment to roll out a litany of electric and hybrid vehicles in North America over the next four years.

"Next-generation hybrids, plug-in hybrids and pure battery-powered vehicles are the logical next steps in our pursuit of greater fuel economy and sustainability," said Derrick Kuzak, Ford's vice-president of product development.

General Motors also affirmed its commitment to develop alternative energy vehicles with the presentation of the latest version of its long-awaited Chevrolet Volt electric car, to be launched at the end of 2010.

GM vice-president Bob Lutz said sales of electric or hybrid vehicles could make up 20 to 25 percent of the auto market by 2020.

The number of small electric cars destined for urban use and electric offshoots of standard car models is increasing exponentially with each new auto show. The latest is Toyota's FT-EV showcased here that will launch in 2012.

But Toyota's main focus at this show was its third generation Prius hybrid, the world's best selling hybrid with one million sold in the past decade. The new model, which boasts 50 miles per gallon, will go on sale next year.

Its main competitor Honda, not wanting to be outdone, showed off its new hybrid sedan Insight, which goes on sale in April in North America.

The goal is to woo "an entirely new group of buyers that previously may not have considered a hybrid because of either image or cost," explained John Mendel, executive vice-president of Honda USA.

Newcomer BYD of China meanwhile presented journalists a prototype for its all-electric vehicle, called "e6", and announced that its hybrid F3DM, launched in China last month, will be available in the United States in 2011.

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