What we've learned from hybrids

摘要

The 'second wave' of emissions-friendly vehicle tech is ushering in plug-in hybrids, full EVs and fuel cells. But they face different challenges from those of the original hybrids. Matt Burt explains. Being a fast follower, it is said, can be beneficial to being first past the post. When it comes to new technology, waiting for others to soften up the market while you hone your products and learn from their mistakes can be a shrewd strategy. The arrival of hybrid vehicles in the late 1990s is a case in point. Pioneering cars such as the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight were dismissed by competitors as glorified science projects when they first reached showrooms. These days, every manufacturer worth their salt is bestowing the virtues of the hybrid cars in their model ranges, although Japanese marques can take some comfort in leading their rivals in terms of sales.