GM goes electric - What next?

Europe, the US and China are the initial target markets, although if the cost of the battery can be driven down and infrastructures improve, GM sees vast potential for E-Flex cars in emerging nations such as India.

America is seen as a potential boom area because more houses have garages, where E-Flex cars could be conveniently plugged in and charged overnight

In the meantime, GM will continue to develop biofuel and gas-powered cars, admitting that E-Flex will take time to develop and will require a period of education before consumers adopt it wholesale.

It already has Saab 9-3 and 9-5 Bio Power cars in its range, and a Vauxhall Zafira that runs on compressed natural gas (CNG).

In addition, it will show a hydrogen-powered concept car at Frankfurt this year, called HydroGen 4.

However, the long-term is focused solely on E-Flex.

'With almost 150 engineers working flat-out on E-Flex, you must understand our commitment to the concept,' says Weber.

'We are convinced that we can make electric power work, and remove motoring from the environmental debate.'