For The Electric Vehicles Market, Small Batteries Mean Big Sales

For the electric vehicle market, it looks like small is the new big, especially when it comes to batteries. According to a new study by Lux Research , the market forecast for energy storage devices for electronic vehicles is bright. Lux sees the sector's overall growth rising from $13 billion in 2011 to $30 billion by 2016 -- a compound annual growth rate of 18 percent. And what will cause this prodigious (and steady) growth spurt? Well, in spite of the current popularity of plug-ins like the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf , Lux sees big returns in small vehicles. The bulk of growth, the study says, will be driven by "more humble" vehicles, like e-bikes and micro-hybrids.