Last week we touted a selection of promising eco-friendly cars unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.  From purely electric rides to advanced hybrids, there were a healthy number of debuts that caught our eye and piqued our interest.  But as we know, a head-turner on the shiny showroom floor doesn’t necessarily equal a dealership hit.  As the “debuts” of 2010 turn into production models for 2011 and beyond, I’m left wondering what tomorrow’s car shoppers are really thinking.  As it turns out, so are a lot of folks.  In conjunction with the country’s largest car show, several industry experts have stepped forward with some equally interesting data.

Ten percent of U.S. drivers – about 20 million – said that they would consider buying a plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle, according to a new survey by Ernst & Young LLP.  And while 10 percent might not seem like too many, it’s a substantial number for technologies that are still new relatively new to the market.

Why aren’t more people signing up for an eco ride?  At the top of the list of hesitations are limited access to charging stations, “range anxiety” – or the distance a battery-powered car can go, and (not surprisingly) cost.

And without a major technology breakthrough, batteries are likely to remain pricey components on cars.  A new study by Boston Consulting Group predicts that lithium-ion battery costs will stay relatively high over the next 10 years, accounting for approximately six percent of the global market by 2020… not nearly as optimistic as other recent forecasts.

While that isn’t the best news for EVs, it’s a silver lining for hybrid makers, who saw sales jump slightly in 2009, despite a down market.  In fact, Toyota’s Prius hybrid sedan boasted through-the-roof sales last month, jumping a whopping 50 percent.  So, having taken a look at the latest and greatest in hybrid and battery technology, I’m eager to assume that demand is only increasing.  It may be a while, but in time, we’ll see more quiet cars cruising our roads – and far clearer skies – for the future.