Yes, jokes aside, synth fuels are nice, but we don't have a shortage of fossil fuels YET. There is still half the world that needs and depends on ICE because of the lack of reliable electricity and the lack of power transmission infra in rural areas.
EVs are a European construct.
The large engine manufacturers (marine, agri, etc) are still doing a LOT of R&D around next gen diesels and even advanced two-stroke engines.
You can't use electricity to move a large cargo ship (well, you can, if you use diesel engines to generate it first).
*Gets out crystal ball* Read in peril. Its probably a crock, but its my crock
For passengers cars, in a country like ours:
Plug in Hybrids. Small engines with EV in capable of EV only mode and charging but supplement from the small ICE.
More premium cars will keep the Large engines and use the hybrid tech for performance boost and not fuel savings.
Europe main cities, maybe even places like Cape Town will be strict EV where the infrastructure can support it.
While EV is pushed, battery R&D will be heavily invested and bleed out into all kinds of non-automotive areas. We sorely need large advances in energy storage across the spectrum.
ICE will still have its place, and will still continue by maybe taking advantage of growing EV tech in some parts like Toyotas MHEV where the ICE is still the star of the show. ICE will stick as the hobby tuner car. EV is boring AF but it is a direct transfer of power with little variables compared.
*increases voltage to motor #Tuned*
Once the reliance on ICE to be the main propulsion of a vehicle will be lowered, tech advancements can be focused on making the engines more energy efficient, simple and less purposed for peak bursts of power. A single point of power is no longer the issue and then different types of fuels, charging, regeneration xxx can be experimented on. The lovely H2 and Eth fuel ideas.
There isnt much more in a typical ICE engine that can be considered a breakthrough. Tiny refinements to thermal waste, efficiency, power etc are only coming out now. Its like me gymming while pushing 40 years old. It can have results, but not like a 20 year old.
This focus on split power sources will make the design ICE more predictable for various scenarios no longer requiring jack of all trades motor of power, economy and reliability.
I dont believe the major manufacturers are going this route to appease the tree huggers and save mother earth because ICE is dead. I think its just the next logical step to look into. Putting in deadlines is to appease the environmentalists but they wont stick.
People who believe that EVs are the future probably had an Atari & bought Blockbuster shares.
Type of people who replaced all their LPs with CDs as CDs were the future.
IC engines may eventually be replaced, but not by EVs....
A lot of sheeple here buy EV's but there has been a bit of a move to hybrids (petrol/electric) and getting rid of the EV's. Hybrids give the best fuel consumption and filling up is way faster than waiting for a charge to complete. Honda CR-V plug-in hybrid uses 0,8l/100km combined (electric and petrol combined). The electric part uses 15,5kWh/100km which is more than what Eskom can produce apparently... Standard use petrol is still at 5,5l/100km. <- ?
Oh and diesel here is seen as satan's blood - diesel vehicles are heavily taxed and I mostly can't buy a diesel vehicle as a private person - only companies or tax registered self-employed people can.
But we don't have minibus taxi's
Cheese, canals and mud. Flattest country in the world. Wish they had 4x4'ing here