EDITORIAL: The case for hybrids remains strong

What's the most effective business strategy for achieving a zero-emission future? In a utopian world, the legacy automakers that are still committed to nasty tailpipes, catalysts and liquid-hydrocarbon fuel would simply end production of all IC-engine vehicles one day and switch over to battery-electrics the next. Everybody pushes a big red button and voila!-it's done. Strident and impractical environmentalists, of whom I know a few, would love it.

Reality is of course forcing the industry down a far more protracted and complex path. As recent news is demonstrating.