This white paper is intended to demonstrate the current developments in the hybrid industry, the brands at the forefront, and the current market position. As environmentally conscious consumers demand newer and cleaner versions of hybrids, the industry is feeling the pressure to produce at a higher rate than ever. By the year 2050, conventional car stock is expected to decrease by .5% whereas stock for alternative cars will increase by 5%. (ref 1) (see figure A) By the year 2020, the market for hybrid vehicles is expected to reach 10 million in the United States (2016 ended with almost 8 million cars sold).

It may seem like electric vehicles are finally having their heyday, but their existence dates back to over a century, and consumer attitudes have seesawed dramatically. The potential for electric vehicles seems to be at its peak, but even that’s been said before. So what factors sway popular opinion on this vehicle type and what does the market foresee in the future? Electric vehicles were once the most popular automobiles on the road, but the industry has always been highly influenced by gover

The country of Norway only has 2.5 million cars, yet they own the largest share of electric vehicles in the world. Not only were they early movers, they were also early to market. Their incentive programs have sped up the introduction of electric vehicles to the population, but the buzz has been going on since the 1980’s. In 1989, Norway started its promotion of electric vehicles using the famous pop group A-ha. Fast forward five years and the Norwegian EV producer PIVCO (who later became Think

When electric vehicles first hit the market, the fear was that their cost would be unaffordable to the general public. To offset this buyer’s anxiety, the federal government (US) began offering tax credits of up to $7,500 to incentivize people. The credit amount varies on the capacity of the battery used in the vehicle, but for the most part, it was a good chunk of change that caused consumers to have a greater interest in the electric vehicle industry. That was in 2010. As we near almost a dec

Studying the effects of fleet electrification in any economy is difficult, but it proves particularly trying in the European market. Across 26 countries varying regulations, manufacturing styles, tax schemes, OEM practices, and infrastructure all highlight the current lack of standardization within the industry. Heavy Duty Vehicles (HDVs) are typically defined as vehicles used for commercial purposes (primarily the transport of freight) weighing more than 3.5 metric tons. Europe is replete with

A very real threat to the road, truck driver fatigue is a major problem in the industry. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, ”Nearly 4,000 people die in large truck crashes each year and driver fatigue is a leading factor.” The vast majority of those deaths are passenger vehicle occupants.  Most trucks weigh close to 80,000 pounds, so it’s easy to see why.  With the wide open roads in Texas, it can be a big problem. Fatigue is the number one reason that commercial trucks are inv

Auto accidents happen every single day in Texas.  Generally people exchange insurance and walk away.  In some cases, however, the accident can be life altering.  Knowing the common causes for car accidents can help to prevent them in the first place.  Should you experience a life altering accident, however, there are steps you can take to improve the quality of your life.  Your first step would be hiring a the premier San Antonio accident attorney – The Welmaker Law Firm. The following are the

Honda is practically synonymous with reliability, durability, and stability. It has cornered these traits in the market for quite some time. As the eighth largest automobile manufacturer in the world, Honda has been a staple in the automotive industry since 1970, when they...