Study wars: plug-in vehicles can't be beat, IHS expects 20 percent market share in 2030

The last time we heard from IHS Global Insight's Philip Gott, he was talking about the overall sustainability of transportation. Now, Gott has lead a study on electric vehicle (EV) adoption rates that paints a positive picture about EVs based on their business case. How positive? How about 20 percent market penetration by 2030? Sure, there are a lot of voices around giving the negative aspects of EVs (Toyota, we're looking at you), but the IHS study found that the inherent benefits of electric drive – quiet operation, lowered emissions and ability to accept energy from a variety of energy sources – suggests they will reach that 1-in-5 rate in two decades.

The challenges for EVs that the study found are items we've heard before: "the development of powerful, long-lasting batteries and ready access to a reliable power grid for recharging." Who knows where things will be in 2030? IHS says they do but don't let this study, called the Battery Electric and Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles: The Definitive Assessment of the Business Case, be your only guide. Gott has scaled back his predictions before, like with the number of hybrids in the U.S. in 2025.

[Source: IHS Global Insight via Autopia]