The president of Mitsubishi Motors Corp., Osamu Masuko, said Monday that that Mitsubishi is currently developing a plug-in hybrid car. The automaker has plans to develop a plug-in hybrid and launch a mass-produced electric vehicle next year in Japan.

Speaking at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan, Masuko opined that the plug-in hybrid will be a better suit for longer distances than an electric car. U,. Mitsubishi is a bit late to the party, no? But, then I guess it is better late than never.

Meanwhile, GMC, Ford and Chrysler continue to restructure.

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Toyota is doing its part to make a mint, um, decrease the impact that its cars have on the world’s fossil fuel resources. By 2010 the automaker wants 1/10th of its sales to be hybrid vehicles. Toyota had not set a target date to reach one million units until now. Presently, the car maker sells 450,000 hybrids a year and wants to more than double that figure within two years.

A fully redesigned Prius hybrid is expected out next spring as well as a second hybrid vehicle. Toyota not only wants to keep its lead in the hybrid market, but expand it.

Toyota not only wants to win, but win big.

Ever since I’ve heard an electric MINI might be built, I kept my eyes open here and there to be sure I get the latest about it. Today I was reading that the guys at CarMagazine managed to spot it in Munich, Germany, with no exhaust pipes and the words “Hybrid Erprobungsfahrzeug” (Hybrid Test Vehicle) written on the sides and the back.

The big MINI fan in me is really excited to see that BMW is taking their plan to create a new vehicle for city drivers - dubbed Project i - to the next level. Though there isn’t anything official from the Germans, the new electric Mini will most likely be part of that project and will make public debut at the 2008 Los Angeles motor show in November. Can’t wait, can’t wait …

We already reported a couple of months ago that BMW will build the electric MINI but the rumor was that only 500 units will be built. Let’s hope, that BMW’s boss Norbert Reithofer will bring good news in November: mass-production!

Anyone for a battery powered MINI?

John McCain wants to save fuel and reduce emissions. (Don’t we all?)  If elected he is willing to earmark $300 million to encourage innovation on a new car battery. I wonder if he couldn’t just buy the technology from Toyota for about half that price. That $300 million is equal to everyone in the United States ponying up $1. McCain wants to do better than Toyota’s hybrid technology.

McCain says the battery should have the “size, capacity, cost and power to leapfrog the commercially available plug-in hybrids or electric cars.  My administration will issue a Clean Car Challenge to the automakers of America, in the form of a single and substantial tax credit based on the reduction of carbon emissions. For every automaker who can sell a zero-emissions car, we will commit a 5,000 dollar tax credit for each and every customer who buys that car.“

A $5000 tax credit? Will that go for anyone buying the Honda FCX Clarity? McCain says that if the US can do Thomas Edison, the Wright brothers, Apollo moon landings, silicon chips and the Internet, then surely we can do a zero emission battery.

“For all the troubles and dangers our energy vulnerability presents, we know that we can overcome them, because we have overcome far worse problems and met far greater goals.”

So, what do you think? Does America have what it takes?

Mazda Motor Corp has a hydrogen-powered minivan coming to Japan for lease beginning next March.  The minivan will have hydrogen-combustion and an electric motor. Mazda is the Japanese affiliate of Ford Motor Co. The company received permission from Japan’s transport ministry to test the Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid. The Premacy is known as the Mazda5 overseas.

The minivan has a generator-powered electric motor and a rotary engine. (And, the Mazda goes ummm…). Emissions are water vapor only. Lease costs will be Y420K ($3800)/month! I think, I’ll take a his and hers.

BMW AG is Germany’s attempt to develop a fuel-cell system. Electricity is generated through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. Honda’s Clarity will be available for lease in the US next month. Both cars have zero-emissions.