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Tag: Plug-In Hybrids

  • Over 40% of U.S. Households Could Use Electric Vehicles Without Changing Habits

    Though consumers in the U.S. are finally viewing electric vehicles as an option at an expanding rate, less that 1% of Americans are currently driving such vehicles. It will take until

    Though the range and size of electric vehicles are often cited as a barrier to adoption, a new survey has shown that a large portion of Americans could use an electric vehicle with little or no change to their lifestyle.

    The survey, performed by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), found that as many as 42% of U.S. households could use plug-in hybrid electric vehicles to fulfill their vehicle needs without significantly changing their driving habits. These Americans have access to a parking space where they can charge such a vehicle, have four or fewer passengers to transport, and have no need of a truck bed or the ability to haul anything behind their vehicle.

    This means that 45 million American households could consider current electric vehicles as their next purchase. Over one-fifth of U.S. households would be able to use pure plug-in electric vehicles without any dent in their lifestyle.

    “Consumers who might be shopping for a new vehicle this holiday season may be surprised to learn that an electric vehicle could be a good fit for their household,” said Josh Goldman, policy analyst for Clean Vehicles at the UCS. “Drivers may have preconceptions about whether electric vehicles can meet their driving needs and habits, and this survey shows that for many, they can.”

    The UCS prepared an infographic showing off the results of the survey. The image also contains statistics about the money consumers can save with an electric vehicle and how much such vehicles could cut pollution:

    UCS Electric Car Survey Infographic

  • Emissions Laws May Push Electric Car Adoption

    Though electric vehicles are slowly becoming more popular in western markets, car manufacturers are still being conservative with the technology. This may change rapidly in the coming years, however, as emissions mandates begin to put pressure on manufacturers.

    Market research firm Strategy Analytics this week predicted that emissions and fuel economy laws will force car manufacturers to move more of their efforts towards their electric vehicles. Such laws, said the firm, will soon outpace the efficiency that auto manufacturers are able to squeeze out of traditional combustion engines. The firm also sees laws in individual cities limiting emissions as a factor that could quickly help shift the distribution industry away from diesel engines.

    “The problem for electrification strategies is to develop powertrains that remain affordable to consumers – while gasoline prices stabilize and even fall,” said Kevin Mak, senior analyst for Automotive Electronics Service at Strategy Analytics. “Without the battery chemistry breakthrough, we believe that a standard 48 volt mild hybrid system fitted across a model range can bring about the increased electrification necessary for auto makers to meet future mandates, but without the high cost associated in deploying large battery packs as on a niche selection of full hybrid and plug-in vehicles. Meanwhile, developments in dynamic wireless charging may also provide an alternative to large battery packs in the long-term.”

    Strategy Analytics points to a variety of fuel-saving technologies that will need to be implemented in the short-term to meet emissions requirements, such as full hybridization of vehicles to improved engine-off systems. Alternative fuels such as hydrogen also get a mention from the firm.

  • Electrics to Make Up 7% of Light Vehicle Market by 2020

    With electric car sales now rising and charging station infrastructure for the vehicles now rolling out, it seems that electric vehicles are finally starting to become mainstream. With major car manufacturers now debuting fully-electric plug-in models, the number of electric vehicles on U.S. and European roads is set to rise steadily for years to come.

    Market research firm Navigant Research today released data forecasts predicting that nearly 7% of “light duty” vehicles sold worldwide in 2020 will be plug-in or hybrid electrics.

    “Electric vehicles, including plug-in models, are becoming an increasingly important part of the global automotive market,” said Dave Hurst, principal research analyst at Navigant. “This growth is being driven not only by the inherent appeal of the vehicles, but also by consumer demand for vehicles that cost less to operate than traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, government incentives, and a rebounding economic climate.”

    Navigant’s prediction is based on several factors. First, as mentioned by Hurst, is that consumers are being incentivized to buy electric vehicles through monetary concerns. With gas prices continuing to rise, tax rebates given by government environmental initiatives could entice consumers to make the switch to electric.

    Car manufacturers themselves are also beginning to see the monetary incentives in electric vehicles. In addition to tax incentives, electric car batteries (which, according to Navigant, can make up around half the cost of plug-in electric vehicles,) are now falling in price. Navigant predicts that batteries for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in particular will fall 26% by the year 2020.

    (Image courtesy Nissan)