Pike Research

Americans' purchases of plug-in hybrids and battery-electric vehicles are set to spike, Navigant says.

"Tonight, we're gonna party like it's 2020" doesn't quite have the same ring to it, but if Navigant Research is correct, electric-vehicle advocates will have reasons to be celebratory, whether Prince is playing or not. The research company formerly known as Pike is saying that lithium-ion battery costs may fall by almost two-thirds

Every single plug-in vehicle sold today represents about 15 by the end of the decade. That's essentially the calculation that Navigant Research (formerly Pike Research) has made, using all the prediction tools at its disposal. In short, Navigant says global annual plug-in vehicles will reach 3 million units by 2020 and will account for about three percent of all light-duty vehicle sales at that time.

To paraphrase the old Elvis Presley tagline, more than 800,000 Europeans can't be wrong. That's the conclusion of Pike Research, which estimates that sales of electric vehicles in Europe will jump more than fivefold between now and the end of the decade.

Driven by fleet and long-distance truck operators who want to save money in the face of climbing gasoline prices, global natural-gas truck sales will likely increase about 15 percent a year for the next six years, Pike Research predicts.

Electric-vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) may provide the juice for new plug-in vehicles, but it's the other way around when it comes to sales with then relatively nascent EVSE market, according to a recent Pike Research report.

Like resolutions and watered down drinks, the coming of the New Year is the time for industry predictions, and tech-research firm Pike Research didn't disappoint when it comes to what it says is in store for the electric-drive vehicle market for 2013.

Fascination with plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) has been softening for in the US in the past year, Pike Research found after once again surveying consumers about their interest level and concerns about the practicality of making such as purchase.

The cost for lithium-ion batteries used in electric-drive vehicles will fall by about a third between now and 2017 as battery-production technology improves, lithium supply increases and battery packs are sold in higher volumes, green-technology research firm Pike Research said in a report released this week.

Global hybrid and plug-in truck sales will almost double this year as more companies and public entities turn to advanced powertrains to cut fuel costs, green-technology research firm Pike Research said.

Americans showing interest in buying an electric-drive vehicle has fallen about 17 percent during the past two years, as car buyers say the continued premium charged for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles doesn't offset the effect of lower refueling costs, according to green-technology research firm Pike Research.

V2G – vehicle-to-grid technology – could be a hugely important step in the upcoming shift from a transportation industry dominated by petroleum to one dominated by things that are not petroleum. V2G is the technology behind the idea of a "cashback car," for example, but it's still a long way from being available. Sure, there are test programs in effect, but does your home have a smart meter to

DC quick-charge stations are robust units that promise to recharge plug-in vehicles from zero to 80-percent capacity in less than 30 minutes. While not required for EVs to work, these units make the concept of cross-country-capable electric vehicles believable and long distance electric-only journeys doable.

Now that full specs for the production version of the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in have been officially revealed, Pike Research has sufficient data to compare its operating costs to those of the Chevrolet Volt. Looking at the research firm's chart, as simple as it is, shows us that

Across the entire Asia-Pacific region, it's China where Pike Research forecasts most plug-in vehicles will eventually be sold.

Will there be enough feedstock to support a massive biofuel boom? It sure seems possible, 'cause Pike Research predicts that the value of the biofuels industry could double in the next ten years, depending on the emergence of advanced feedstocks.

Pike Research has put out an estimate saying that annual sales of plug-in vehicles in the United States will hit 358,959 by 2017. And they're not all going to the usual suspects. Mostly, sure, but not all.

Annual worldwide sales of natural gas vehicles will jump 68 percent to 3.2 million vehicles in 2016 from 1.9 million in 2010, according to Pike Research. The surge, says Pike, will be driven mainly by fleets looking to cut petroleum dependency and reduce operating costs.

As the global economy takes steps toward recovery, truck manufacturers are looking to technologies that can mitigate the rising cost of diesel fuel. Trucks that utilize electricity to meet this goal come in four flavors: hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid, pure battery electric, and plug-in electric power take-off to operate on-board equipment without using fuel.