Now the two most prominent electric cars each rule a continent -- Chevrolet Volt in the U.S. and Nissan Leaf in Europe.
The all-electric Nissan LEAF just beat out 41 also-rans to be named 2011 European Car of the Year. The award comes in the same month that Volt won Motor Trend's and Automobile magazine's Car of the Year Award.
The "Nissan LEAF" was hailed as a breakthrough for electric cars and able to match conventional cars in many respects. A panel of journalists has named the battery-powered Nissan Leaf has been named 2011 European Car of the Year. It is the first all-electric car to be chosen for the award.
"The jury acknowledged today that the Nissan LEAF is a breakthrough for electric cars. The Nissan LEAF is also competing for 2011 North American Car of the Year honors, against a wide variety of vehicles that ranges from the extended-range electric Chevrolet volt to the Jaguar XJ luxury sedan. Nissan's battery electric Nissan LEAF has won the European Car of the Year award by a clear margin of nine points.