Abstract:

Over the next five to ten years, passenger vehicle manufacturers will be confronted with regulatory pressure and material penalties as gains in fuel economy fall behind the required rates of improvement set to address environmental preservation and climate change mitigation. The fuel economy targets are expected to exceed forecasted new internal combustion engine powered passenger vehicle capabilities. This report examines to what extent electric vehicles (EV) − battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) − are the latest technologies to increase average fuel efficiency in the bid to close the emissions gap and meet stringent fuel economy standards. This new frontier represents a significant opportunity for the energy sector.