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ROCKVILLE, MD--(Marketwire - March 10, 2010) -  MarketResearch.com has announced the addition of SBI's new report "Electric Vehicle (EV) and Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) Markets Worldwide," to their collection of Electric Vehicles market reports. For more information, visit http://www.marketresearch.com/redirect.asp?progid=67618&productid=2496608

In 2009, the Toyota Prius hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) became the best selling passenger vehicle in Japan, beating out all other gasoline powered cars. It has been thirteen long years, but hybrids have finally hit the big time. No longer just for environmentalists, electric vehicles (EV) are now mainstream.

Hybrids have always been a niche market, capturing one percent or less of the world passenger vehicle market through the first decade of the millennium. But in 2009, SBI Energy estimates that just over 700,000 electric vehicles were sold worldwide, with 99% of those being hybrid electric vehicles. HEVs stole 1.5% of the world passenger vehicle market in 2009, and almost 8% of the same market in Japan.

The demographics for hybrid ownership are still very much skewed towards affluent, educated families; the classic early adopters of new technologies. But with the surge of general consumer acceptance of HEVs, seen by the uptake in HEVs in 2009 even during the most difficult recession since the 1930s, there will be new consumer segments purchasing HEVs in the coming years.

And with hybrids hitting the mainstream, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and BEV models are not far behind. Plug-in electric vehicle products from Toyota, Nissan and Mitsubishi are coming to market in 2010, following in the successful tire tracks of hybrids. But the lithium-ion battery technology required to make PHEVs and BEVs with a sufficient driving range to appeal to consumers is expensive, leading to a cost premium for plug-in vehicles that will keep sales minimized over the next four to five years. This leaves the road wide open for hybrids to continue to dominate the EV market.

Electric Vehicle (EV) and Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) Markets Worldwide by SBI Energy analyzes the manufacturing and sales of electric based passenger vehicles throughout the world with a particular emphasis on the United States and Japan as the leading markets for electric vehicles. The analysis will include definitions, current product offerings and market detail on the following segments:

• Road legal hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), both current offerings and anticipated models, that use gasoline, diesel or ethanol blends for the internal combustion engine (ICE). This includes road legal passenger vehicles and light duty trucks.
• Road legal plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), both current offerings and anticipated models, that use gasoline, diesel or ethanol blends for the internal combustion engine (ICE).
• Road legal battery electric vehicles (BEV), both current offerings and anticipated models. This will include passenger vehicles, light duty trucks, motorcycles, and neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs, essentially non-highway rated road-legal vehicles).

This report will help:

• Marketing managers identify market opportunities and develop targeted promotion plans for homeowners looking to maximize fuel economy of their next new car and want to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Research and development professionals stay on top of competitor initiatives and explore demand for current electric drive train and vehicle battery technologies.
• Advertising agencies working with clients in the banking, retail and construction industries develop messages and images that compel homeowners to migrate towards electric vehicles when considering their next automobile purchase.
• Business development executives understand the dynamics of the market and identify possible partnerships.
• Information and research center librarians provide market researchers, brand and product managers and other colleagues with the vital information they need to do their jobs more effectively.

For more information, visit http://www.marketresearch.com/redirect.asp?progid=67618&productid=2496608