Sales of new-wave electric vehicles in the first three years after their introduction in the U.S. exceeded the number of hybrids sold in the first three years. Last year 435,000 hybrids were sold in the U.S., or three percent of the market.

 

CHEAPER BATTERIES

 

Some $8.7 billion in R&D spending by governments world wide has helped to lower the cost of batteries. That means electric cars can cost less or have longer ranges for the same price.