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Will 2011 be the year of the Plug-In Electric Vehicle?
January 15, 2011 12:37 PM

Plug-in hybrids. Heard of them? The trucking industry is ramping up production and this year should see considerable market saturation:

A new study on the prospects for plug-in electric vehicles (EV) in the U.S, predicts that EV "evangelists," mostly in the Western U.S., will lead the way in the adoption of plug-in vehicles -- buying most of the EVs sold in America during the next two years. The study's outlook for EVs is blindingly bright, holding that some 730.000 plug-in vehicles will be on U.S. roads by 2016, per the study.

Even with only 8.5% of respondents saying that they have plans to buy EVs, the spark should be large enough to finally get the industry over the hump:

"As 2010 comes to a close, many electric vehicle developments, initiatives and movements are converging to make U.S. automotive history for 2011," the study notes. "Motivated by more than $5 billion in EV-related government loans and grants to-date and a projected 730 thousand EV/PHEVs (plug-in electric vehicles) on the road by 2016, a vibrant plugged-in auto sector in the U.S. appears possible."

The biggest issue, though, is the build-out of the infrastructure to charge all of these large trucks as they traverse the United States:

The build-out of the electrical grid to accommodate charging hundreds of thousands of EVs and the availability and accessibility of charging stations, for example, are necessities for both the commercial and consumer sectors. The study sees big "blue chip" companies, such as GE, Leviton, ABB and Siemens as being at the forefront here, providing advanced EV infrastructure and components.

The general public is also positioned to jump on board, albeit with reservations:

According to a new white paper by Pike Research, 2011 is the year that will test the commercial viability for EVs in the U.S. market. The key will be whether these vehicles can successfully perform the various tasks demanded of them by everyday motorists and truck fleets alike.

"There is still a great deal of uncertainty about the issues of price sensitivity, 'range anxiety' and the importance of charging station networks [as well as] the length of time required to charge EVs, and other important matters.

"These questions can only be answered through real-world experience that is gained from commercial launches," he added. "This is the year in which many of these answers will come into greater focus."

Stay tuned. Let's hope 2011 is the year of the Plug-in Hybrid!


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