The electric-car era may hit in 2017 when at least two battery-powered cars that can attain 200 miles of driving range and cost less than $40,000 enter the market.

In addition to Tesla Motors Inc. 's forthcoming Model 3, a leading battery maker says it is preparing a pack for an electric car that extends the range of most vehicles on the road today, but at a similar price.

"We are definitely working on making a 200-mile-range battery electric vehicle at around the $30,000 to $35,000 price target," said Prabhakar Patil, chief executive of LG Chem Power Inc., a U.S.-based research arm of the South Korean battery company.

"It's more than a possibility. We feel we will be able to support such a vehicle around the 2017 time frame." He said more than one auto maker is interested in the technology, although he declined to say which ones.

General Motors Co. is almost certainly one of them.