Car makers together in electric dreams.

Byline: By CHRIS RUSSON

THE sports car which began life as a Lotus Europa is now wearing an American badge and is on a mission to make the world green with Envi.

Envi is what Chrysler calls its electronic vehicle research and development project which aims to have zero emission cars on the road within months.

It's part of a sea change in automotive technology that will alter the way everyone looks at cars - and it is going to happen very quickly.

Just down the road from Chrysler's US research facility, General Motors also intends to have electric cars ready to roll next year.

The rapid switch to electric vehicles is the response to the economic crisis which has caused turmoil for the car-making giants.

Should Chrysler and GM survive, both see the dash towards EVs as critical elements for the future .

Their wares are being displayed at the Geneva Motor Show where we have just grabbed an exclusive first drive in Chrysler's electric supercar, the Dodge Circuit.

With its roots in the Europa, it looks slick and quick and it's as mean as they come. This may be a prototype, but it's quicker than the Lotus and produces no emissions.

Better still, the Circuit is fantastic to drive as we discovered on a handling track in Geneva. The acceleration is astonishingly quick with 0 to 60 taking less than five seconds.

With a 200 kilowatt electric motor slung in the engine bay above the back wheels, it clings to the road even better than the car on which it is based.

There is no gear lever, just press a button to engage the drive and the stopping power from the regenerative braking system is as impressive as the acceleration.

The motor develops the equivalent of 268 horsepower, which is more than the Lotus engine, and it has a range of between 150 and 200 miles before it needs to be hooked up to the mains for recharging .

A full recharge from a UK domestic power socket should be complete in three hours.

Driving style and weather conditions affect the range. The lithium-ion batteries don't like extreme conditions, but as Chrysler's research programme continues the goal is to increase battery life.

The Circuit is a completely electric vehicle, which more than demonstrates there's fun to be had from the new technology.

Of course, it is strange there is no engine noise or exhaust roar from such a potent beast, but somehow the road rumble and wind buffet deliver some excitement on the way to its reported 120mph top speed.

The Chrysler team has been working on the Envi project (it's named after the first letters of environmental) since 2007.

Much of the development has been top secret, before being forced out into the open by the recent surge in oil prices and global money market crisis.

As well as the Circuit, Chrysler is also working on electric versions of the Jeep Wrangler and Patriot off-roaders, the Grand Voyager MPV and a new saloon, the 200C.

Like the General Motors Ampera, which is making its debut at Geneva, these will have extended range by using a small internal combustion engine to generate electricity.

Initially they will be very expensive - in excess of pounds 20,000 for an Astra-sized car - but the makers say they will cost pennies to run.

CAPTION(S):

SHOCKINGLY GOOD - General Motors' Ampera will be among the wave of electric cars hitting the market; IMPRESSIVE BEAST - Chrysler's Dodge Circuit, is part of the rapid switch towards electric-powered vehicles