Not all green cars are created equal, however several models do have one important aspect in common: their release year. As the competition to become the leader in a growing industry intensifies, several manufacturers have decided to introduce eco-friendly vehicles in 2010. This is a race in which nobody wants to be left behind, so auto makers are doing their darndest to make their new offerings as appealing to the masses as possible. Among the vehicles set to debut that year are:

Chevrolet Volt - The Volt has been generating a respectable amount of buzz for awhile now and will attempt to give the Prius a run for its money in the plug-in hybrid market. The car will be able to travel for 40 miles before the gas engine kicks in, though its price tag is expected to be higher than originally thought.

Mercedes - Pick a model. The makers of Mercedes vehicles are clearly feeling ambitious, as they have announced their intent to eliminate petroleum-run cars from their lineup by 2015. Electric cars, hydrogen vehicles and biofuels are all expected to be developed and yes, the company also has plans to release an electric car in - you guessed it - 2010.

Nissan - Charles Ghosn, CEO of Nissan and Renault, has said Nissan will also introduce an electric vehicle to the U.S. and Japan in 2010, to which he added that the company hopes to begin "mass marketing zero-emission vehicles."

BYD - The Chinese battery maker wants to expand into hybrid cars and electric cars, first in Europe and then to the U.S., most likely with their plug-in hybrid, the F6DM, which has the ability to run for 62 miles before a small gasoline engine kicks in. The company is also expected to introduce the smaller version of their car, the F3DM, as well as the E6 electric car, similar to the F6DM but 100 per cent electric. BYD expects the car battery will have a lifetime range of 600,000 kilometers.

» The Huffington Post

This is an old review but a good one, since it highlights several shortcomings of hybrid vehicles that other reviewers tend to overlook, plus they get into some detail of the business and design of hybrid vehicles.

From P.J. McCombs' review:

"... much of the Altima Hybrid's running gear is licensed from Toyota. The borrowed tech includes the electric motor and battery pack, electric-assist steering system, CVT transmission and battery-charging regenerative brakes. The resulting fuel savings are spectacular; Nissan says Altima Hybrid drivers can expect 41/36mpg. But with all of these shared components, the Altima Hybrid claims to dynamic uniqueness seem a bit, um, dubious. Is it "the first Nissan that drives like a Toyota?"

I had no idea all of Nissan's hybrid technology was licensed from Toyota.  On the one hand it's a good thing since Toyota's hybrid system is the most tried-and-true hybrid technology on the market.  But it also raises the question: is this just a Toyota in Nissan clothing? 

I have to warn you before you hit the jump to read the full review that this guy is not a fan of hybrid vehicles, or of Nissans, so it's a pretty scathing piece.  If you drive a 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid, don't take it personally.

» The Truth About Cars

No, this is not a photo of a mini-submarine or an escape pod for the space shuttle.  It's the Pivo 2, an environmentally-friendly electric concept car from Nissan.  Not a fan of the techno-bubble appearance of the Pivo 2?  Then maybe the technology will make you a convert...

The Pivo 2 is powered by advanced compact Lithium-ion batteries.  That means no gas in this car unless you hit a Taco Bell on the way home from work!

The entire cabin can rotate 360 degrees.  Now instead of flipping people off over your shoulder you can spin around and make all sorts of elaborate gestures!

Each wheel has an independent electric motor and can turn 90 degrees.  That means the car can drive perfectly sideways.  No more see-sawing into parking spaces!

A cute little personal robot plugs into the dash R2D2-style (if you look closely at the photo you can see him peeking through the windshield).  This little guy can read your e-mail, take phone messages, and help you navigate to your destination.

The look of this type of concept isn't going to appeal to a lot of North Americans, but the reality is that if we want more efficient vehicles that use less resources then cars like the Nissan Pivo 2 are likely in our future.

» Nihon Car