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Car-makers are increasingly looking at an electric future to meet the growing demand for clean vehicles.
Most research engineers believe that electric drive concepts are the answer but are still searching for ways of effectively storing and generating such energy aboard.
"Obviously a powerful battery is the best solution," said Frank Klegon, Chrysler's executive vice-president for product development. "But lithium-ion technology with such capacity is far from ready for mass production and unaffordable", he adds.
He estimates that batteries will in the next five to 10 years supply sufficient energy for short trips but that power would have to be generated aboard the vehicle for longer trips.
Two concepts are emerging: Fuel cells that produce electric power from hydrogen, emitting only water vapour from the exhaust, and the combustion engine as a so-called range extender.
The issue at present is how to bridge the gap until such technology is ready, with hybrids already being offered for many mass production vehicles. Mercedes presented the S and GL class fitted with bluetec-hybrid technology at the recent Detroit car show.
BMW also presented an X6 fitted with an additional electric motor. General Motors announced it would release 16 hybrid vehicles over the next four years.
European manufacturers are betting on clean diesel technology. BMW is launching its "blue performance" models in the United States while Audi presented its super sports car, the R8 fitted with a V12 TDI diesel motor in Detroit. Mercedes presented the first four cylinder bluetec system in a GLK.
Japanese car-makers are also bringing out new diesels. Honda announced that it would start selling its first diesel in the US in 2009.
Chrysler manager Klegon said: "We are watching the situation closely so that we can also offer diesels for the US models".
But now most US car-makers are placing their bets on petrol powertrains. Ford has unveiled a new engine generation called EcoBoost. It combines direct injection with a turboloader, reducing consumption by between 20 and 30 per cent.
Another way of reducing consumption and doing something for the environment is the increased use of bio-ethanol.
GM's CEO Richard Wagoner said that by 2012 some 85 per cent of all vehicles produced by the concern would be ready to drive on E85 fuel - a mixture of 85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent petrol.
Wagoner considers this the best short-term alternative.
