Here's why 2016 may just be the year the hybrid finally goes mainstream

The hybrid - which draws its go-forward juice from both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor - was once seen as the long-term future of personal mobility. And it certainly made sense. Here was a model that saved fuel, reduced tail-pipe emissions, and served up a generous helping of instant torque. What was not to like?

Today, however, such a belief isn’t necessarily as widely held. Yes, the majority of the world’s big automakers are now investing obscene amounts of cash in the development of either all-electric or hydrogen technology (or both) instead, which paints a gloomy picture for the internal combustion engine. The hybrid, it seems, is no longer the eco-world’s holy grail.

But before these manufacturers can overcome the numerous hurdles standing in the path of full-electric and fuel-cell vehicles – such as satisfactory battery range and the chicken-or-egg infrastructure problem – they need to bridge the gap. And many appear to be turning to the hybrid in a bid to do so.

Continue reading the full article on Motorburn.