Industry leaders discussed the future of the electric car at last week's "New York and the Electric Car" forum at Columbia University. The speakers were not concerned with the logistics of charging electric vehicles in a city like New York– the power grids will likely be able to handle the strain most of the time.

DETROIT — Ford Motor Co. Executive Chairman Bill Ford Jr. told government and industry leaders last week that his company is serious about building electric cars. Ford's first commercial electric vehicle, a battery-powered version of its Transit Connect van, will go on sale to fleet customers in 2010. The automaker also has announced plans to