U.S. Power Producers: PHEVs Will Take 10% of New-Car Sales by 2017

face=+Italic; San Diegoface=-Italic; --Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) believes that utilities will start taking market share away from oil refiners in the coming decade as plug-in electric hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) will account for 10% of U.S. new-car sales by 2017.

What's more, 40% of U.S. new cars in 2030 could be PHEVs, EPRI environmental director Michael Miller said in a presentation to National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA) annual meeting here.

Aiding the PHEV cause: "Green" electricity, which will gradually replace dirtier forms of power, he said. ...