6 May 2014: A report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) Implementing Agreement for co-operation on Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Technologies and Programmes (IA-HEV) stresses the importance of high fuel prices to the financial viability and political support for electric drive vehicles.

The study, conducted by IA-HEV Task 15 on Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles, also underscores the importance of intensive vehicle use, suburban and rural driving patterns, and less expensive, next generation batteries and technologies for increased electric vehicle adoption.

In addition to these general findings, the report provides the Operating Agent’s detailed summary of technical findings, covering issues such as range, battery design, cost-effectiveness, and vehicle-to-grid discharging. The results of the report appear in four main sections: the world supply of lithium; extreme temperature performance of electric drive vehicles; grid-connected vehicles and renewable energy; and the 2011-2013 Task 15 sub-tasks on powertrain attributes and vehicle lifetime use costs, and policy issues and marketability.

A concluding section suggests future work for Task 15 on various topics, inter alia, methods to desirably alter charging behavior, simulation of plug-in versions for “crossover” sport utility vehicles, and a study of powertrain depreciation and its impact on vehicle lifetime use costs. [Publication: IA-HEV Task 15 Report on Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles] [IISD RS Story on IA-HEV 2013 Outlook]