When the North American International Auto Show opens to the public on January 16, 2010, consumers will not be surprised at the significant number of electric and hybrid vehicles on display and some revolutionary concept car designs.
Industry focus on electric and hybrid vehicles is expected to increase as automakers’ prepare for the issuance of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation proposed light vehicular emission standards.
As previously discussed on iGreenLaw, the proposed rule would require model year 2016 vehicles to meet an estimated combined average emission level of 250 grams of carbon dioxide per mile, and the overall light-duty vehicle fleet's fuel economy would reach 35.5 miles per gallon in model year 2016, up from 27.5 mpg today.
However, automakers and industry analysts recognize the uphill battle in marketing and selling electric and hybrid vehicles, particularly given the currently high costs of battery packs. According to the New York Times, approximately 98% percent of the vehicles sold in the United States in 2009 were powered by conventional gasoline engines.
As stated to the New York Times, “[automakers] don't know what the market is going to be for electric vehicles,” said William Ford Jr., Ford Motor Company’s executive chairman. “A lot will depend on the ability of people to charge them at home, at work, at the mall.” Moreover, the $40,000 initial pricetag of the Volt, GM’s upcoming electric vehicle with a gasoline battery charger, may not be within most consumers’ budgets. Perhaps in recognition of this challenge, GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz told the Detroit Free Press that, at full production, GM will build a maximum of 60,000 Volts.