The electric car is finally arriving on a mass scale in Europe, and they were the talk of the latest motor show in Paris with the Pininfarina B0 afforded special attention.  At last an electric car that can appeal to the general public.

The car, the result of a collaborative effort between Vincent Bollore and Pininfarina, claims a range of over 150 miles (250 km) and a top speed of 80mph (130 km/h) and highlights the shift from nice concept car to mass market appeal.  It boasts solar panels on the roof with the first models coming off the production line in 2009

http://www.pininfarina.com/index/storiaModelli/B0.html

The increasing regulatory pressures in Europe (such as carbon dioxide emissions standards) allied to increasing fuel prices should force car makers to build zero-emissions cars into their portfolios.