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By Danny King, Contributor


Annual global hybrid-electric (HEV) and battery-electric vehicle (BEV) production will more than triple over the next six years as Toyota extends its lead in the HEV market while automaker partnerships such as the one between Renault and Nissan help double BEV production every year by lowering the cost of batteries, according to a report released this week.


Additionally, battery-electrics may actually account for a larger percentage of cars made by relatively smaller-volume companies such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz than for Nissan or Toyota within the next few years as those German automakers increase their investment in their MINI and Smart brands, respectively, in an effort to meet tightening emissions and gas-mileage standards, according to the report by Boston-based Strategy Analytics.


As a result, annual hybrid production will jump to 4.6 million vehicles in 2016 from 1.4 million this year, while BEV shipments, which will be in the 20,000 range this year as Nissan introduces its battery-electric Leaf in late 2010, will surge to about a half-million vehicles, Strategy Analytics said, citing what it called its "moderate" scenario.


Such expansion of HEVs and BEVs will be key if automakers are to meet U.S. and overseas regulators' tightened emissions and gas-mileage standards because automakers can only improve gas mileage so much with improvements on gas-powered vehicles such as stop-start systems and smaller engines, according to the report.
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Tags: BMW, Batteries, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Daimler, Emissions, Fuel Economy, GEM, General Motors, Hybrid, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault, Volkswagen, Battery-Electric Vehicle, BEV, Chrysler, GEM, HEV, Hybrid-Electric Vehicle, Lithium Battery, Mercedes-Benz, Nis

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Automaker Partnerships Will Reduce Battery Costs, Drive EV Production - Study was originally published by Green Car Advisor. Read the full story by clicking here.