Despite a brutal downturn for automakers, many are continuing to progress with their plans to develop more fuel efficient vehicles.

We know GM has not not bailed on the Volt (as some less-than-enthusiastic folks predicted), Ford recently debuted its Fusion Hybrid, Toyota's increased the fuel economy of the Prius for the 2010 model, and Honda's new Insight is expected to be quite competitive, with an EPA mileage estimate of a combined 41 mpg., and a potential price tag of $19,800.

Nissan is also focusing on the future of electric vehicles, and actually announced yesterday that it had formed a partnership with San Diego Gas & Electric to develop an infrastructure to provide charging stations for electric car owners.

Sure, the vehicles may not be at your local dealer today - but they will be. And Nissan is taking the appropriate steps to facilitate the early stages of infrastructure development.

Over the past year, Nissan has teamed up with the state of Tennessee and Oregon, and governments in Japan, Israel, Denmark and Portugal to study the infrastructure needed to support the roll-out of electric cars in 2010.

Nissan plans on launching a new generation of zero-emission vehicles in the U.S. in 2010. The first models will likely be powered by lithium-ion battery packs, and will have a 100-mile range, with a 200-mile range for the second generation models.

Jeff