Featured News Items: EV Battery Shortage? Hybrid reliability is good.

From the Washington Hybrid Report:
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2017/01/13/HybridReportJan1520157.pdf

EV Batts
"There is now concern in the auto manufacturer world that there will be a shortage of electric car batteries as demand takes off, Automotive News Europe (Gibbs, January 2, 2017) reports. Just a year ago, Volkswagen had decided that batteries were over-supplied. Now, they are scrambling for batteries as they gear up to sell more electric cars. Those who follow the auto industry point out that a year ago, Volkswagen was building “clean” diesel cars instead of electric, but since the diesel emissions reporting scandal, Volkswagen is now depending on electric cars to fill its clean car requirements. But Volkswagen is not alone. Most European car makers are ramping up production of electric cars. Tesla does not plan to worry about battery shortages. It has flipped the switch on its battery plant in Nevada, Reuters (Ajmera & Subba, January 4, 2017) reports. The first batteries produced at the plant are going into Tesla’s Powerwall 2 and Powerpack 2 products. These are energy storage systems designed for home and industrial electrical needs. Tesla will start making batteries for the Model 3 car later this year."

Hybrid Reliability
"For those people who are still concerned about the reliability of hybrids and the lifespan of hybrid batteries, CBS News (Edgerton, January 5, 2016) reports that of the cars that people keep for 10 years, the top two are hybrids: the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and the Toyota Prius. The Lexus RX hybrid is number nine on the list of the top ten cars owners keep for ten years. In the case of the Highlander and Prius, 32% of the owners keep those cars for 10 years. In comparison, the Honda Odyssey, number 10 on the list of cars owned for 10 years, is only kept by 24% of its owners."