For years, inventors and automakers have dreamt of creating an electric car. In fact, the electric car dream goes back to Thomas Edison’s time. However, electric cars have remained a novelty in the automotive world. This is mainly due to the limited battery life which impairs the practicality of such cars.

But that is bound to change with the recent announcement by Japanese automakers of their intent to develop electric cars and roll them out within the next few years. Already, recent technological breakthroughs in the development of longer-lasting lithium-ion batteries may soon eliminate the obstacle of limited battery life.

For instance, Mitsubishi’s electric car called the iMiEV can run 160 kilometers (100 miles) on one charge which takes 14 hours when using a conventional 100 volt outlet on the wall or 30 minutes to charge up to 80% of the battery using a special quick charger. Mitsubishi plans to bring the iMIEV to the market by 2010 at a price of less than three million yen or US$30,000. Further breakthroughs in lithium-ion battery development can significantly increase mileage and reduce price in the next few years.

Other Japanese automakers are also racing to get their own electric cars out into the market. Nissan Motor Co. is planning to start selling an electric car in the US and Japan in 2010, and the rest of the world in 2012. Aside from electric cars, Japanese automakers are also developing fuel cell cars which produce electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, with water vapor as the only by-product.

Honda is at the forefront of fuel-cell technology with its FCX clarity which boasts of a 620 kilometer mileage per charge and takes just three to four minutes to recharge. Honda has began selling the latest FCX Clarity in the US last year with the first five cars delivered to celebrities such as film producer Ron Yerxa and actress Jamie Lee Curtis.

Meanwhile, Toyota has had early success with its gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles such as the Prius but is also deep into developing a range of fuel cell, electric and other environmentally-clean cars that can run on biofuel or clean diesel. Toyota’s new fuel cell car, the FCHV-adv is touted to travel 830 kilometers on a full tank of hydrogen. Fuel cell vehicles do not produce harmful greenhouse gases. However, their high cost as well as the absence of hydrogen refueling stations has stopped fuel cell vehicles from going into mainstream use. It will require government policy to build such refueling stations.