Boston Consulting: ICE technologies can meet 2020 emissions targets

A new report entitled ‘Powering autos to 2020: the era of the electric car?’ has been published by the Boston Consulting Group. The report states that internal combustion engines (ICE) are improving their ability to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions at a lower cost than expected, and the automotive industry could meet 2020 emissions targets with improvements to conventional technologies such as ICE. ICE technologies can reduce tailpipe emissions of CO2 by 40%, at a cost to consumers of US$50 to $60 per percentage point of reduction for an average passenger car, the report said. However, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) will have to make modifications to combustion technologies, transmissions, vehicle mass, aerodynamics, and power management to make this level of emission reduction happen. “Electric cars will undoubtedly play an increasingly large role in many countries’ plans in the decades ahead as energy independence and environmental concerns intensify. But they will gain only modest ground to 2020. Gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles are improving faster than expected and will continue to dominate the global landscape,” said Xavie Mosquet. (July 6, 2011)