Could Every New Car Be A Hybrid By 2020?

All new cars will have some degree of hybridization by 2020, by which point battery technology will be ubiquitous and vehicles will communicate with one another and the road to make driving safer and easier.

That vision of the future is laid out in "Automotive 2020: Clarity Beyond the Chaos," (.pdf) by the IBM Institute for Business Value. The report, based on interviews with 125 auto industry executives in 15 countries, says the industry is on the cusp of revolutionary changes that will see environmental sustainability and technological innovation become top priorities as automakers respond to consumer demands for more efficient cars that don't sacrifice performance, comfort or reliability.

"In the next 10 years, we will experience more change than in the 50 years before," says an executive with a European automaker who, like all of those quoted in the report, was not named.

The revolution already has begun.

350zdon17 - 8/15/2008 1:34:42 PM

+1 Boost

pretty sure its not that simple...if it was there would be no debates about the issue

daytonaviolet - 8/15/2008 1:54:32 PM

+1 Boost

It's really not that simple. I think that there needs to be multiple solutions created.

Star - 8/15/2008 2:05:31 PM

-1 Boost

That will never happen!

350zdon17 - 8/15/2008 2:34:26 PM

0 Boost

Did the persons post before mine get blown off the website because it was so stupid? lol

PlanB - 8/15/2008 3:03:34 PM

-2 Boost

The article didn't mention this, but every car and light truck has to (unbelievably) get 35 mpg by that time, so its possible. A lot of cars don't have to do anything because they already meet the standard or soon will. But the industry will need to attempt to come up with something, whether its from a more economical engine or a better battery for the hybrid technology.

But to answer the question of this post, no I don't believe every car will be a hybrid but there will be a whole lot more of them on the road by then.

asiancars233 - 8/15/2008 5:24:03 PM

+1 Boost

dodge charger and challenger hybrids, chevy camaro hybrid, and ford mustang hybrid. woow.

candywhite - 8/15/2008 6:20:30 PM

0 Boost

wow my comment got deleted.
this forum is gay.

t_bone - 8/16/2008 12:35:59 AM

+1 Boost

Can it be done in 12 years? Well, that's about 10 years for studies and focus groups, and 2 years to implement. So actually the focus groups should be done in preschool, because the cars won't be ready on until those kids have their permits.

BMW740Z4 - 8/16/2008 7:04:48 PM

+1 Boost

It would be an awfully stupid idea to do so...how are we going to dispose of all of the toxic batteries? Recycle them? OK...how much pollution does that give of?

I see alot of hybrid pushers with a very Shoot, Aim, Ready mentality.

Think we've got a problem with getting our hands on oil and that it's environmentally devastating to drill? How about a nickel mine (the main ore component in batteries)?

Doubt most of the folks here have been to one...it ain't pretty. I'd live next to an oil field rather than live 10 miles from a nickel mine.

Sounds like the smart folks will be buying up nickel ETF's regardless.