First Drive: 2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid

Six years ago, I attended the Electric Vehicle Symposium in Long Beach, California, and at the conclusion of a riveting presentation by a major advanced-tech battery manufacturer, a questioner asked about the prospects of lithium-ion batteries for automobiles. The presenter was stony-faced for a few seconds — and then responded with a cocked head. “What do you mean by lithium batteries in