Batteries and Plug-Ins Dominate The Frankfurt Auto Show
Batteries and Plug-Ins Dominate The Frankfurt Auto Show
BY ANDREW BREINER ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2013 AT 3:01 PM
Every year, automakers of the world fill the Frankfurt convention center with the newest car technology and designs. This year at the Frankfurt Auto Show, that means hybrids and full-electric cars are stealing the show, with a large number of the 70 world-premier vehicles running on either battery power or hybrid gas-electric systems.
Thats in part a result of increased Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards spurring technological innovation. The Obama administration set new standards in 2012 requiring fuel economy to reach 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025 for 90% of vehicles sold in the US.
That standard will require significant market penetration by hybrid electric vehicles, and battery electric vehicles, over 50% according to a study by the Center for Automotive Research. That would reduce US oil consumption by 12 billion barrels and reduce the amount of CO2 produced by cars by about 5%.
Meanwhile, proposed European Union efficiency standards would limit CO2 per kilometer to 130 grams by 2015 and 95 grams by 2020. A report by Transport & Environment finding both premium and mainstream carmakers are on track to achieve their 2020 targets, with gains coming mostly from strides in efficiency. The popularity of efficient diesel cars in Europe has reduced the appeal of new electric options, though the hybrid and electric market is growing.
Electric motors are proving especially popular with high-performance luxury cars, due to their ability to accelerate extremely quickly....
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/09/10/2598351/frankfurt-auto-electric/