2010 will be pivotal for EVs

Hundreds of thousands of electric vehicles (EVs) will be driving the worldÂ’s roadways within the next five years. While the full effects of this automotive revolution will take years to be realized in the mainstream market, its impact on auto manufacturers, battery makers, utilities, and smart grid companies will be profound, one research company states.

According to a new white paper from Pike Research, 2010 will be a critical year for the emerging EV industry.

“The electric vehicle market is full of myths and misinformation,” says senior analyst John Gartner. “Our analysis shines a bright light on key business and technology issues in the EV industry and reveals important truths about how the market will evolve in 2010 and beyond.”

A few of Pike ResearchÂ’s industry predictions include the following:

• The cost of owning and driving an electric vehicle is not likely to be cheaper than using gasoline;

• The plug-in hybrids of 2020 may not resemble the plug-ins of 2010;

• Lithium Ion batteries sold with the first EVs may have little to no resale value;

• Asia will be the dominant supplier and consumer of electric vehicles and batteries;

• The grid as a whole will accommodate and even benefit from EV charging, but some neighborhoods with multiple EVs could overwhelm utility equipment.

Pike Research’s paper, “Electric Vehicles: 10 Predictions for 2010”, explores hot topics in the EV world and assesses their impacts on key industry players. Conclusions and predictions in the paper are drawn from the firm’s in-depth coverage of the Clean Transportation industry, and market forecasts are included for key sectors.

A free copy can be downloaded by visiting www.pikeresearch.com.