Can hybrid vehicle technology maintain its current momentum?
By: Colin Whitbread, Wednesday, April 01, 2009, AutomotiveWorld.com Even the casual observer of auto powertrain-related news cannot fail to notice the almost daily flow of new developments in the hybrid vehicle technology field. While the current ‘Honda Insight versus Toyota Prius’ battle grabs headlines, the stream of other hybrid-related news is hard to overlook. There can be few doubts that the momentum of development currently underway is strong and that this extends across both the passenger cars and commercial vehicles sectors. While debate continues with regard to the long-term future of hybrid vehicle technology and its possible displacement by pure electric vehicles and/or fuel cell or other powertrain systems*, the reality is that this uncertainty appears to be doing little to stem the current tide of hybrid vehicle development. In recent days, the scope of research/development has been particularly visible in relation to the European commercial vehicles sector. An Iveco Euro
