Is Electric the Future for Cars?

2013 Fiat 500e

Every industry has the same problem.  No one can predict future trends.  Try as much as they might, the market reacts however it wants.  That’s a problem that the auto industry is going through right now.  How can they prepare for a future that is looking more and more to not be dependent on traditional gas?  Recent developments that have been made with electric cars certainly point to this being the most potential industry.  But CEO of Chrysler Sergio Marchionne questioned whether this would be the case.

Speaking at the Society of Automotive Engineers 2013 World Congress in Detroit, Marchionne brought up the subject the new technologies.  His major critique was against the government adding incentives to the market to convince people to embrace electric cars.

“I believe we should continue to explore the potential of electricity, but without being strong-armed by regulators and in combination with benefits of all other available technologies.”

He continued by adding that he thinks the US should be neutral to technology and has the automakers be the ones that test potentials for alternative fuels.

Currently, the US has a $7,500 federal tax credit for buying a plug-in electric or all-electric vehicle.  While it’s a great incentive to those on the fence about getting one, but the tax credit hasn’t seemed to have made an impact yet.

While Marchionne may not be completely on-board with electric quite yet, it hasn’t stopped the automaker from producing their first all-electric car, the Fiat 500e.  It’s being speculated that Marchionne may be raising warning signs about electrics cars due to the loss the company takes with each vehicle sold.  And that’s after all subsidies.

New technology is difficult to accept especially when it’s taking over for something that’s been ingrained for so long in a products existence.  Only time will tell if electric is the way of the future or if there is something else just wanting to be discovered.

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