Chrysler, Ford Agree on Charger : Autos: General Motors plans incompatible system for its electric cars.

Chrysler Corp. and Ford Motor Co. took a small step toward making electric cars more attractive to the public Tuesday by agreeing to use the same type of charging system for the batteries.

“The goal is to avoid the VHS versus Beta problems we saw with early videotape technology,” John Wallace, director of Ford’s electric vehicle systems, said.

However, General Motors Corp., the nation’s largest auto maker, is pursuing a different--and incompatible--charging system, throwing a wrench into the goal of adopting common standards for the fledgling industry.

A common charging system would allow drivers of different brands of electric vehicles to recharge at the same “fueling” points, just as drivers of gas-powered cars can refuel at any gas station.

In addition to recharging equipment in the garage at home, auto makers envision public charging stations where drivers can recharge their vehicle while they shop or dine.

“The buyer has to perceive the fact that they won’t run out of electricity if they’ve driven more than 50 miles from their house. That’s one of the things we’re working on,” said Gene Seider, an engineer with SCI Systems Inc., which developed the “conductive” charging system adopted by both Ford and Chrysler.

GM is developing electric vehicles with an “inductive” charging system. It recharges batteries in half the time of the conductive system and uses plastic hardware rather than metal.