Futuristic electric car plans on hold

ATSUGI, Japan - Futuristic designs for electric cars are unlikely to enter mass production for a decade as automakers concentrate on conventional looks to help gain consumer acceptance for the zero emission cars, Nissan's chief designer said on Friday.

Major automakers have already released or are planning electric vehicles but the experimental designs used in prototypes like Nissan's bubble shaped Pivo with its revolving cabin won't be seen in showrooms anytime soon.

Tokyo-based Nissan's first electric vehicle to go on commercial sale, the LEAF, is set to roll out later this year. It is curvaceous but looks much like a standard gas-engine car.