Hybrid vs. all-electric? Automakers put stakes in the ground at Tokyo car show

I'm not a big car buff, but you’re about to hear a whole smattering of news about cars that use alternative fuel options out of the Tokyo Motor Show, which is running until Nov. 11.

I don’t have the travel budget to be there myself but wanted to pick out some of the early coverage.

One debate among automakers, as illustrated by an article in The Wall Street Journal, is whether or not to skip right over selling hybrid models into offering all-electric models.

According to the article, Toyota Motor and General Motors remain firm advocates of hybrids that use a combination of gasoline and electricity as fuel sources. Renault AS, Nissan Motor and Honda Motor are reportedly now focused more on all-electricity. (You may need a log-in to get to the article, so sorry in advance if you’re not a subscriber!)

Another report out of Tokyo from Agence France-Presse focuses on the goods.

Here are two of the early highlights, one from each side of the hybrid vs. all-electric debate:

- Toyota is showing off a smaller version of its highly successful Prius, a smaller and lighter concept car called the 1/X.

Here’s a link on Toyota’s site that showcases all their concept vehicles.

(The above photo of something that Toyota calls the PM, or Personal Mobility vehicle.)

- On the flip side, Nissan is exhibiting the Pivo 2, an electric concept car. Here’s a quickie demo on YouTube.

Keep your eye out for more green auto news over the next two weeks.