TOKYO — Nissan on Wednesday rolled out its all-electric prototype vehicle, which is bound to hit the U.S. market in 2010, hot on the heels of the electric Chevrolet Volt. The company said its latest-generation electric vehicle uses a front-wheel-drive layout, advanced lithium-ion batteries and a newly developed 80kW motor and inverter.

However, it was not clear if the prototype, a white vehicle with Nissan Cube proportions and "EV-02" emblazoned on its side, foreshadows what the production vehicle will look like. "The production vehicle to be introduced in 2010 will have a unique body style and is not based on any existing Nissan model," the automaker said in a statement. Details such as cruising range are yet to be determined, executives said. The vehicle's advanced laminated compact lithium-ion batteries are installed under the floor, "without sacrificing either cabin or cargo space," said Nissan.

The Nissan electric vehicle is set to go on sale in Japan and the U.S. in 2010 and globally by 2012.

The electric vehicle prototype was one of the highlights of Nissan's annual advanced technology briefing, which has been rolling out high-tech offerings all week, including the automaker's Eco Pedal, which keeps drivers from flooring it as a way to conserve fuel. Nissan, which is racing to keep up with competitors Toyota and Honda when it comes to alternative-fuel vehicles, has made the electric vehicle the centerpiece of its ambitious green strategy.

The other Nissan prototype to take center stage at the briefing was its hybrid electric vehicle, which is noteworthy for its rear-wheel-drive configuration. It also uses a parallel-powertrain hybrid system, which eliminates the need for conventional torque converters. Nissan said this setup contributes to "higher responsiveness and linear acceleration for improved driving feel." The automaker did not disclose fuel economy numbers for this prototype.

The hybrid electric prototype seemed to underscore Nissan's determination to develop its own such system by 2010. Nissan now buys its hybrid system from Toyota for the Altima Hybrid.

What this means to you: Some concrete evidence that Nissan is making progress with its alt-fuel vehicles. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent