Behind Detroit’s sudden embrace of ethanol

TWO technological trends, both unimaginable a year ago, dominated last week’s motor show in Detroit, the premier showcase for carmakers worldwide. One was the U-turn in the past decade’s headlong pursuit of horsepower and size. The other, less apparent but possibly more significant, was the industry’s wholehearted embrace of biofuels.

While carmakers wait for better batteries, petrol-electric hybrids remain stuck in the slow lane—and risk being overtaken by other technologies. The third iteration of the Toyota Prius, with lithium-ion batteries that can be recharged from a socket at home as well as from the brakes and engine on the road, has been delayed again. Lithium-ion cells pack a far greater punch than today’s nickel-metal-hydride batteries, but they continue to display explosive tendencies.

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