Abstract
Since the last edition of this report two years ago, the environment has
started to make a serious impact on manufacturers' model plans. Global oil
prices have continued to rise, a pattern we can expect to see continue as we
hit global peak oil production, which is expected at some time in the next few
years.
Much has changed in those two years, and this new edition looks at the major
factors of today and tomorrow, including discussion about the rapidly growing
biofuels sector. The discussion is particularly relevant for diesel cars
because diesel fuel is produced in greater quantities than gasoline from the
available sources.
Forthcoming emissions limits are also beginning to shape diesel engine design,
with after-treatment now enabling diesels to meet even the most stringent
exhaust emissions limits in force or pending. At the time of publishing, there
are currently no diesel hybrid cars in series production but the continuing
advances in battery technology and measures to reduce the cost associated with
hybrid technology plus the evidence of concept vehicles shown at the 2008
Geneva Show, suggest that we will see them in the next two years.
At the same time, manufacturers are beginning to incorporate the kind of
emissions-reducing measures our 2006 report encouraged - for example, applying
stop/start systems to mainstream models - while manufacturers like BMW have
taken efficiency savings a step further, reducing energy consumption and
greenhouse gas emissions without having a serious impact on vehicle
performance.
View Cart
