Several companies have already started field-testing battery-electric passenger cars and light trucks for use in their fleets.

MSN: Fleets likely to drive early demand for electric cars

The Wave Hub, an electric "socket" for testing wave energy machines off the north Cornwall coast, has been unused since it was installed on the seabed in 2010, but managers say the first device is expected to be connected this year.

BBC: Scottish and English marine energy parks join forces

While GM gave up on the car, AeroVironment kept up its electric vehicle research and development and has been offering EV charging and testing equipment and services to automakers as well as selling a line of chargers for heavy-duty electric forklifts.

FORBES: AeroVironment Will Build A Filling Station In Your Garage

Pure electric cars and plug-in hybrids are just now testing the waters in limited numbers and are yet to be ready for prime time.

FORBES: California Orders Automakers To Sell More Plug-In and Fuel-Cell Cars

Microchip-testing-equipment maker Advantest Corp. and industrial-robot maker Yaskawa Electric Corp. have confirmed that they placed pension money with AIJ.

WSJ: Japanese Fund Loses $2.3 Billion

Aiming to be the Zipcar of electric scooters, Scoot Networks has officially launched in San Francisco after months of beta testing.

ENGADGET: Scoot aims to be Zipcar of electric scooters, launches in SF