Most of the dates are on the alterna-fuel lovin’ West Coast, with stops in Detroit to rub it in and Tennessee, where Nissan has its U.S. headquarters.

The sked:

Southern California
Los Angeles: Nov. 13-17
Orange County: Nov. 18
San Diego: Nov. 19-21

Northern California
Berkeley/Walnut Creek: Nov. 23-24
San Francisco: Nov. 25-29
Santa Rosa: Dec. 1
Sacramento: Dec. 1
San Jose: Dec. 3-6

Pacific Northwest
Seattle: Dec. 8-12
Vancouver, Canada: Dec. 14-15
Portland, Ore.: Dec. 17-23

Southwest
Phoenix/Tucson: Dec. 30-Jan. 5
Las Vegas: Jan. 6

Midwest/East Coast
Detroit: Jan. 11-13
Knoxville/Chattanooga, Tenn.: Jan. 16
Middle Tennessee: Jan. 19-21
Washington, D.C.: Jan. 26-28
Raleigh, N.C.: Jan. 29
Orlando: Feb. 1-2

Texas
Houston: Feb. 5-6

New York
New York City: Feb. 9-14

Daimler says that the electric Smart Fortwo will go into large-scale production at a plant in Hambach, France, as early as next month.

The first run of 1000 electric Smarts will be built in November 2009 and delivered to customers by the end of the year (Merry Christmas!). The car will be at full production and in Smart car dealerships by 2012, said Daimler Chairman Dr. Dieter Zetsche.

Specs for the new electric Smart Fortwo:

• Lithium-ion battery housed between the axles
• 30 kW motor in the rear
• 88 lb-ft of torque from the get-go
• 80-mile range
• 0-62 mph in 6.5 seconds
• Max speed limited to 100 km/h (62 mph)

The idea, according to a press release, is to not get swallowed up in a sea of small electric vehicles. Rather, ZENN will develop the powerplants for those cars. They’ll even make the ZENNergy drive available for aftermarket conversions of gasoline or hybrid cars to electric power.

While the EPA is working this out, the New York Times “Wheels” blog asked a few folks in the know what they thought the fuel economy rating should look like on the window sticker. A few of their suggestions are below; what would you the potential alt-fuel buyer like to see? Tell us in the comments.

• ETV Motors of Israel wants three pieces of information: the all-electric range, the electric efficiency in miles per 10 kW hours, and gasoline fuel efficiency for plug-in hybrids
• Think! of Norway wants to measure energy usage during a standard driving cycle, maybe with a star rating
• Coda Automotive prefers to see the battery range and a statement about the car’s emissions-free status

Arcimoto of Eugene, Oregon, revealed its three-wheeled electric vehicle last week, called the Pulse. It may look like low-speed neighborhood electric vehicles of recent years, but this little guy can go a bit fast and a bit farther than many three-wheeled EVs.

The Arcimoto Pulse is a two-seater with a range of 50-100 miles, depending on terrain and speed, and a top speed of 55 mph. It can charge at a standard U.S. 110-volt outlet in six hours.

The car isn’t quite ready for the road yet, but Arcimoto is taking preorders. $500 will hold a place in line for a car that’s expected to come in under $20,000 when it rolls off the assembly line in Eugene in Fall 2010. If you take a look at the Pulse and decide it’s not for you, the company will refund $450 of the deposit. If it is for you, and you want to trick it all out with more power and a schmancy radio, they can do that, too.

The 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show was filled to the brim with electric cars, it seems, though it also seemed that only a few of those cars were destined for American shores. Case in point: the two new electric cars from India, the Reva NXR and NXG.

The Reva NXR will see production first, probably as soon as next year. It comes with either an expensive but range-extended lithium ion battery pack or a cheaper but shorter-distance bank of lead-acid batteries. With the li-ion battery, the NXR can hit 65 mph and travel as far as 100 miles; the price is a pretty reasonable $21,000 or so in Europe. The lead-acid version has a 50-mile range and a top speed of 50 mph, and a price tag around $14,000.

The Reva NXG will be a 2011 model, with a top speed of 80 mph and a range of up to 125 miles. No prices were reported yet, but he car will have a targa top to let in a little sunshine.

Renault Twizy Z.E.

• All electric, zero emissions
• Two-seater, with the passenger behind the driver
• Developed for city driving
• Performance comparable to a 250-cc motorcycle

Renault Zoe Z.E.

• All electric, zero emissions
• Optimized climate control for better fuel economy
• “Hydrating,” “detox,” and “active scent” functions for the interior climate

Renault Fluence Z.E.

• All electric, zero emissions
• Designed for families
• 100-mile range

Renault Kangoo Z.E.

• All electric, zero emissions
• Based on an existing model
• Made for business use

The idea is to show America that electric cars aren’t weird — they look just like the other cars in the mall parking lot, for better or worse — and they aren’t poky little puppies. They have a lot of torque, if mashing the pedal at stop lights is your thing, and their light weight can make them pretty zippy if they’re supplied with enough juice at the factory.

The car being used in the show will go on sale to the public in 2011, according to the New York Times. The one on the show has an extra battery for power, plus a roll cage and a five-point harness for safety.

The locations of the cars — rumored to be at about 1400 parking stations — membership costs and participation process will all be announced this fall, when city officials are back after summer break. One-way trips will be possible, as they are with Velib, and the cars will be able to be picked up and dropped off at any Autolib station. No word yet which electric cars will be used for the program.

By the way, it’s pronounced Auto-LEEB, as it’s the words for car (automobile) and freedom (liberte) smashed together in one marketable word.

Automotive News, and industry publication, recently did a rundown of the upcoming cars from Japanese manufacturers. Here’s the latest in green cars from the Land of the Rising Sun (and Rising Fuel Economy):

Honda:

• Rumor has it that an electric vehicle from the company could be unveiled this fall and see production in 2015
• The hybrid version of the Honda Fit has been canceled
• The CR-Z hybrid sport coupe will go on sale in Spring 2010

Infiniti:

• The company may introduce a diesel engine in the U.S., like it sells in Europe
• We’ll see an Infiniti hybrid in 2 or 3 years,probably in an M-class sedan

Lexus:

• The Lexus HS dedicated hybrid debuted in January this year, and goes on sale this month
• A hybrid version of the ES will be added in 2012

Mitsubishi:

• The U.S. will get the I-MiEV electric car in 2012
• A larger I-MiEV II with more cargo space could debut in 2012, too

Nissan:

• “By the middle of the next decade, or 2015, something on the order of 10% of our volume will be EV,” said Brian Carolin, senior VP for North American sales and marketing
• The all-electric Leaf will go on sale in 2011, and be built in the U.S. in 2012
• The 370Z sports car might get a hybrid version for 2012

Scion:

• 2011 iQ: The tiny, gasoline-powered car is expected to get 60 mpg and go on sale in the U.S. in fall 2010

Subaru:

• Has neither a hybrid nor a clean diesel in its plans for the next few years

Toyota:

• A two-door Prius could see production in 2012 or 2013
• Toyota is considering hybrid versions of the Yaris, Avalon, and Corolla
• The Sienna minivan will get a hybrid version in 2012

Image of the I-MiEV by Kristen Hall-Geisler.