With technology that is efficient, quiet and pollutant free, it is no coincidence that demand for fuel cell drivetrains is gaining momentum rapidly in the auto industry.

If Fiat Chrysler merges with PSA, the struggling Alfa Romeo brand could be revived under "car guy" Carlos Tavares who races in his spare time and resurrected the Alpine performance brand when he was the No. 2 at Renault.

Conventional vehicles are strictly regulated but currently the EU and the U.S. publish only voluntary guidelines for self-driving cars. This needs to change, says Matthias Kempf, a partner at Berylls Strategy Advisors.

Formula E racing has marketed itself partly as a showcase for future EV technology that will one day reach road EVs. But in some crucial areas such as charging speeds and batteries, it’s starting to lag behind.