There is enormous environmental, economic and legislative pressure on the automotive industry to produce affordable, low emission alternatively fueled vehicles. As alternative energy technologies develop and improve, what path should automakers choose: biofuels, hybrid, lithium-‐ion batteries, or hydrogen fuel cells? With so much at stake, it is important to choose correctly if companies want to remain competitive in this quickly changing market. Different auto manufacturers in the United States have chosen different paths, and the future of these companies may hang in the balance. Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG's) from fossil fuels are widely accepted within the scientific community to contribute to global warming. GHG emissions and other …show more content…
Since 2007, many different technologies have developed, and some important decisions have to be made by auto manufacturers. In the United States, the race is on for auto manufacturers like GM, Ford and Chrysler, to meet the emissions standards while maintaining and/or growing market share. Choosing the right direction to go is no simple task. Not only do manufacturers have to meet the emissions standards, but they have to do it in a way that is attractive and affordable to the consumer. The future of each of these companies depends on making the right move, and decisions are being made now that affect the next decade of planning. Manufactures have to design their entire fleet and business plan around which technology they deem to be the most marketable while meeting these strict emissions regulations. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has put all of its chips on the hydrogen fuel cell technologies. While other companies have invested heavily in electric and hybrid technologies, FCA has no plans of selling electric vehicles. Although the Fiat 500e is electric, FCA views this car as a "compliance car" to meet stricter emissions regulations in states like California …show more content…
There is still a long way to go, especially in the development of infrastructure for fueling hydrogen fuel cells. This is an extremely expensive undertaking, and puts it at a disadvantage to electric vehicles that can charge off of the electrical grid that already exists in the United States. The American auto company Tesla has gone a completely different direction. They believe that battery electric vehicles (BEV's) are the future, and they have invested big in the development of lithium-‐ion battery technology. Tesla recently broke ground on the Gigafactory in Nevada. This factory is larger than all of the other lithium-‐ion battery factories in the world... combined! It is safe to say that BEV's are not going away soon. Tesla is betting on other auto manufacturers purchasing their lithium-‐ion batteries, worldwide. They are even developing a market for home batteries. The Gigafactory will undoubtedly make Tesla vehicles and other BEV' Although it is difficult to speak with absolute certainty, the safe bet at this time appears to be with BEV's and not hydrogen fuel cells. The major advantage that BEV's have over