Electric Vehicles: A Pleasant Surprise? Maybe?

[dewline]

Looking at this for a few minutes:

https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2021/09/electric-cars-have-hit-inflection-point/620233/?utm_source=feed

I didn't think things were moving this quickly on the global scale in terms of cars and trucks. Yes, the manufacturing process is still messy as Hell. But are we making progress of some sort here? I think the answer to that question is "yes".

armiphlage, autopope, you might have some informed context to add here...? Anyone else?

Comments

[danieldwilliam]

I think electric vehicles are forecast to hit cost parity with ICE vehicles on a total cost of ownership basis in the early 2020's. Higher cost of production offset by lower cost of fuel. Exact timing depend on which jurisdiction you are in and what petrol prices are there. Europe earlier than the USA. EV costs keep falling as 1) production scales up 2) battery costs come down 3) learning curve effects happen.

Whilst a slight cost advantage for ownerhip in the 2020's might not shift consumer behavour on its own it helps and it's more impactful on fleet managers and commercial owners.

[armiphlage]

Fleet managers and commercial owners are exactly who I thought would have been screaming loudest for electric vehicles. I'm surprised that the world hasn't completely switched over to electric garbage trucks and last-mile delivery vehicles. The maintenance costs are so much lower, and electric power trains are ideal for frequent stops.
That's why the UK used to have the world's biggest fleet of electric vehicles, with electric milk floats.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milk_float