Behind the wheel of electric cars
For all their differences under the hood, the electric cars coming to market do a pretty good job of disguising their electric identities. That will make these vehicles more attractive to potential buyers, but don't expect auto sales to flip electric like a light switch. A few weeks ago, I had the chance to drive a number of electric vehicles at a plug-in auto industry conference in Detroit. I can report what many car reviewers will tell you: these are real cars. You really can forget that old rickety golf cart idea. Step into a Nissan Leaf or a Chevy Volt and you'll feel at home, even with new "fuel gauges" you'll see. Although I only had short drives with the Leaf, Volt, and other electric cars, I found them comfortable and enjoyable to drive. The electric-car all-stars come out (photos) As these plug-in cars get more attention in the media, it seems there are more attempts to deflate the hype around electric cars . J.D. Powers and Associates, for...