No escaping the plug-in hybrid

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) hosted a presentation of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Energy Technology Perspectives 2008. Neil Hirst, director for Energy and Technology and R&D at the IEA in Paris, discussed facing the triple challenges of increasing energy demand for economic growth, drastic climate change and threats to energy security.

The IEA demonstrated that deeper cuts in carbon dioxide emissions are achievable and that new technologies such as carbon capture and storage as well as renewables are the key to a more sustainable energy future. According to Hirst, reducing global energy emissions by half or more will require significant emissions reduction in the transport sector.

The IEA found that plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles could be gradually introduced as infrastructure develops. Light-duty vehicle oil use and tailpipe carbon dioxide emissions can be cut by 75% or more by 2050. Also, according to the IEA, fuel cell vehicle (FCV) technologies are viable but need at least another ten to fifteen years of research and development before large scale deployment can proceed.