The Electric Defender retains the four-wheel-drive hardware and differential lock of the standard Defender.

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The Audi e-tron, for instance, is an experimental sports coupe that relies on a battery alone to drive four electric motors one for each wheel.

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So for tall people who like to sit close to the steering wheel, your head will hit the sunshade in the Fortwo Electric Drive Coupe.

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In addition, the smart fortwo electric drive can be equipped with a navigation system and a 3-spoke leather steering wheel.

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It uses four electric motors, one driving each wheel, and brings a new meaning to four-wheel drive.

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The first GM-designed and built electric motors are scheduled to debut in 2013 in its next-generation, rear-wheel-drive, two-mode hybrid technology.

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The company also is developing four-wheel-drive technology that powers two wheels with an internal combustion engine and two with an electric motor, eliminating the need for a drive train that takes up floor space, Ho said.

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