Nissan is throwing its hat into the electric vehicle ring in a big way. The Japanese auto maker just announced the development of a vehicle that has a new type of battery. Compared to the batteries found in other electric (and hybrid) vehicles, the one found in Nissan’s can store twice as much electricity.

Batteries are seen as one of the choke points in electric and hybrid vehicle development. You can go through hell developing a fantastic new engine, but if you’re still storing everything in conventional batteries it’s hardly worth the effort.

The company also plans to launch a hybrid vehicle of its own in the U.S. and Japan in 2010.