BOULDER, CO - 2011 will serve as an important test of commercial viability for the new electric vehicles (EV) coming to market, according to a new white paper from Pike Research, "Electric Vehicles:10 Predictions for 2011".

"There is still a great deal of uncertainty about the issues of price sensitivity, range anxiety, and the importance of charging station networks, the length of time required to charge EVs, and other important matters," said senior analyst John Gartner. "These questions can only be answered through real-world experience that is gained from commercial launches. 2011 is the year in which many of these answers will come into greater focus."

A few of Pike Research's industry predictions include the following:

• "Range anxiety" will prove to be more fiction than fact.

• Automakers will get pushback from EV owners regarding the length of time it takes to fully charge a vehicle.

• Many EV charging stations will spend the majority of their time idle.

• The landscape for charging equipment will undergo a seismic shift as the category swiftly moves toward becoming a commodity market.

• The majority of people who drive a plug-in vehicle won't own it.

• Fuel cell vehicles will be sold to fleets and consumers in small but growing numbers.

A full copy of the white paper is available for free download on the firm's website.