For those of you who were so disappointed when Toyota super-sized the second-generation Scion xB, Nissan may soon offer an alternative. Next week at the New York Auto Show, Nissan will be showing an electrified version of the Cube equipped with lithium ion batteries. Nissan is planning to introduce an electric Cube in the U.S. and Japan in 2010 with fleets getting them for field testing for the first two years. After that, Nissan plans to expand availability to retail customers starting in California and, eventually, worldwide. The production edition is expected to have a range of 100 miles per charge

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We recently told you about North Carolina’s Duke Energy’s new research center for plug-in hybrids. Yesterday, Duke Energy announced that the energy company and the Coca-Cola Bottling Company Consolidated (based in Charlotte) will be working together on research for plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) technology. The partnership won’t just be to test vehicles - both companies will convert some hybrids currently in their fleets to PHEVs (Coke will convert three Priuses) - but also to educate the public on what a plug-in hybrid is all about.

This isn’t Coke’s first foray into greener vehicles. Just a few weeks ago, Eaton announced that Coke had ordered 120 hybrid trucks. Now, if they can find a way to replace all the HFCS with sugar - the old fashioned style - in American Coke, I might drink the stuff more often.

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Since Mitsubishi first introduced the i concept back in 2003 it has been the subject of much speculation. Would it come to America? Would it be sold in the U.K.? Is it even any good? And that’s just the gas version. The electric version, the i MiEV, has caused even more confabulation. Soon we will have our own opportunity to get up close and personal with these little machines when they make their North American debut at the New York International Auto show this coming week.

Hopefully, we’ll even get news from Mitsubishi about their plans for selling these cars in the U.S. I mean, they can’t just wave them under our noses and then whisk them away back to Japan. I think they’ve noticed that 42,000 people have put deposits down on a Smart ForTwo that gets the same mileage as the i but holds two fewer passengers for about the same price. I also think we’ll be paying close attention to what side of the car the steering wheel is on.

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