In one corner is a group called Consumers for United Rail Equity (CURE), which includes electric utilities like Entergy and Xcel Energy, and chemical companies like Dow and DuPont.

FORBES: All Aboard

The consortium, which includes Better Place, General Electric and automotive component companies, is now in discussions with other automakers.

FORBES: Better Place To Bring Electric Taxi Service To California in 2013

Siemens AG has been named once again to the prestigious Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI), capturing the No. 1 spot in the sector Diversified Industrials, which also includes ITT, General Electric and Toshiba.

FORBES: Obama Administration Banking On Next-Generation Nukes

Bass player Chris Chew rounds out the group, who've just released their sixth CD: Electric Blue Watermelon, which includes a duet with singer Lucinda Williams and contributions from pedal-steel phenom Robert Randolph.

NPR: North Mississippi Allstars' 'Electric Blue Watermelon'

The Focus EV includes what Ford calls "Electric Badges, " which are clearly marked logos on the doors and trunk lid to warn responders of possible electric shock.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

The two companies aim to help develop and deploy telematics applications on the Windows Azure platform, which includes Windows Azure and Microsoft SQL Azure, starting with TMC's electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in 2012.

ENGADGET: Microsoft and Toyota to partner on smarter charging systems for EVs (update: yes)