“As well as the production vehicles that went on sale in 2011, announcements from all the major manufacturers make it clear that this segment will have much more competition in the next couple of years”
"As well as the production vehicles that went on sale in 2011, announcements from all the major manufacturers make it clear that this segment will have much more competition in the next couple of years," says principal analyst David Alexander. "Also, some existing hybrid vehicles will be fitted with larger batteries to improve their electric-only range."
Continued demand for cleaner, more efficient vehicles, led by governments dealing with goals to cut emissions, means that financial incentives will be around for a long time. The recharging infrastructure is also developing rapidly in urban areas, which are being targeted as prime regions for electric vehicle adoption.
"Range anxiety is diminishing and consumer acceptance is growing, but the major obstacle for potential purchasers of an electric car remains the high price," says group director Dominique Bonte. "And while the costs of power electronics and electric motors are expected to drop significantly as production ramps up, no big price cuts are expected for the most expensive component, the battery pack."
Alternative technologies such as hydraulic hybrid drive, ultracapacitors, and flywheel energy storage continue development and testing in niche applications, but it seems that the battery-electric solution will be the recipient of the majority of the production investment during the forecast period.
ABI Research’s new study, "Electric and Hybrid-Electric Vehicle Components," (ABI Research 1004465) provides an analysis of global market trends, cost and technical evaluations of the major PHEV sub-systems, and discussion of existing product announcements. System volume and value forecasts for installations are provided globally, by region, through 2020.
www.abiresearch.com/research/1004465
