A slew of electric vehicles that wouldn't normally make it to the North American International Auto Show will take a featured spot on the main floor of the upcoming Detroit show.
Organizers of the annual auto show have set aside 37,000 square feet of exhibit space in Cobo Center they're calling "Electric Avenue" to feature as many as 20 electric vehicles.
But don't expect to see the Chevy Volt or Toyota Prius, which are to be shown elsewhere at Cobo.
Instead look for vehicles from niche companies such as Spokane, Wash.-based Commuter Cars Corp. and Green Vehicles in San Jose, Calif.
"Normally it would be cost-prohibitive for them to participate in a show of our scale," said Doug Fox, chairman of the 2010 North American International Auto Show, which is to open to the press on Jan. 11 and to the public Jan. 16.
The cost of being part of the electric exhibit is less than renting space and building a display, Fox said.
The exhibit is to feature unique as well as more traditional-looking vehicles.
Expect to see the Tango from Commuter Cars, an ultra-narrow electric vehicle that claims to be mix between a motorcycle and a sports car.
China's BYD may bring its electric E6 and Mitsubishi may bring its MiEV to the exhibit.
The electric vehicle feature also will include space for news conferences and engineering lectures.
Karl Brauer, editor-in-chief at Edmunds.com, said electric vehicles are a good way to fill unused floor space.
"It's even better for the small manufacturers to get on what is otherwise a very huge, very critical part of the media stage for the automotive world," Brauer said.
