Two of the biggest automakers are continuing their push to develop electric cars despite lackluster appetite for the vehicles.

General Motors Co. and Nissan Motor Co. are both pushing to drive sales in the electric-car business -- but with two different approaches.

GM said that later this year, it will produce the Cadillac ELR, a luxury version of the Chevrolet Volt. Nissan decided to approach the market from a different angle by offering a new base model for its all-electric Leaf sedan that is $6,000 cheaper than the car currently on the market.

GM sold 23,000 Volts in the United States last year, which is less than 1 percent of its overall sales. Last year, Nissan sold about 9,800 Leafs in the United States. The company had predicted it would sell more than double that number.

The companies' efforts represent the two biggest bets on battery-powered vehicles, but they are not alone.

Other new entries coming to market include small electric cars from the Italian automaker Fiat SPA and the German luxury-car company BMW Group. Still, analysts are doubtful the market will grow much in the near term (Bill Vlasic, New York Times, Jan. 16). -- KJ