A whole herd of intriguing small cars is on the horizon.

2011 Nissan LEAF

On sale: Late 2010 -- Limited Availability

Unlike the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, which is mostly shrouded in mystery, the Nissan LEAF is rapidly becoming a known quantity. Nissan currently projects a 100-mile range for its five-seat electric, and is quick to emphasize that's a "real world" range, not a theoretical best that's achieved with all accessories turned off in an Escher-esque downhill-only universe. It too will offer a "quick charge" function that will bring the batteries to 80 percent in about 30 minutes. How much will it cost? Well, Nissan also promises that the LEAF will be "affordable," but without defining exactly what that means or if it includes government subsidies. We'll all find out later this year.