Volkswagen electric cars are coming; Want Volt, will travel

(Volkswagen)

VW electrics
Volkswagen says it will release a range of hybrid and electric vehicles that will account for 3 percent of its global sales by 2018. VW will introduce either the Up! city-car (shown above) or the Golf compact as an all-electric vehicle in the U.S. by 2013. The automaker also plans to sell a gas-electric hybrid version of the Touareg SUV later this year, followed by a Jetta hybrid in 2011.

(General Motors)

Volt orders
If the Volt's recently announced $33,500 price tag (after a $7,500 federal tax credit) has you ready to buy, you'll have to travel a bit. GM's initial sales markets are Michigan, California, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Texas and Washington, D.C. A buyer who lives in another state can order a Volt from a dealer in one of the launch markets but will have to travel to that state to pick it up. Those ready to place an order can do it at getmyvolt.com.

Sources: AP, New York Times News Service