Electric vehicles are taking the spotlight at this year's Detroit Auto Show, where car companies are unveiling their latest technology.

Electric vehicles take center stage at 2016 Detroit Auto Show?

After a record year for US car sales, the mood at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show is one of celebration.

Car-makers clocked sales of 17.5 million vehicles in 2015, helped by America's easy credit, improved economic growth, and a huge drop in gas prices.

But the next generation of vehicles is trying to take the shine off the gas guzzlers. This year, the big push is on plug-ins, or electric hybrid vehicles.

General Motors is touting its new Chevrolet Bolt as the car of the future, with some impressive credentials.

"With more than 200 miles per charge and a cost of about US$30,000 after federal incentives, the Bolt EV is truly the first EV (electric vehicle) that cracks the code of long range at an affordable price," said Mary Barra, CEO, General Motors.

But that means the American mind-set needs to shift gear. For consumers, combustion engines, filling up at the pumps, low gas prices—those are known quantities. Change can be difficult and that makes the new technology a harder sell.

"Auto-makers can educate this society a little bit more with the green vehicle products. And tell them about the benefits, because they can save fuel, but I think in the long run the cost of the premium on these green vehicles is not as attractive to the consumers amid these low gasoline prices in the US," said Jennifer Vuong, Automotive News.

Volkswagen, meanwhile, is using the show to shake off the scandal of its emissions cheating scheme.

"We all know that we have let down customers, authorities, regulators, and the general public here in America, too. We are, I am, truly sorry for that. And I would like to apologize once again for what went wrong with Volkswagen," said Matthias Mueller, CEO of Volkswagen.

Those mistakes could cost the company US$48 billion in fines in the US alone. VW hopes this show will help to close the door on this recent chapter.