There are more electric cars on the road than at any time in history and every year more are added. Between the fuel efficiency, the awesome styling, drivability, and the increasing availability of charging stations around the world, there will be no stopping the electric vehicle (EV).
Of course, at EV Meter, we’re enthusiastic, but we’re not alone.
“Electric cars represent the next big step for the automotive industry, and it’s a transformation that’s already taking place. We’ve already rounded up the best electric cars you can get in 2019, from Nissan Leaf to Tesla Model X, but the truth is that we’re only at the tip of the EV iceberg.
“For the last few years, the car industry’s heavy-hitters have been transforming their businesses and plunging millions into R&D around and production of electric cars – and in the next 12 to 18 months we’re going to see the fruits of that huge investment.”
“Future electric cars: upcoming EVs in 2019 and beyond,”
Curtis Moldrich – Car Magazine UK – 9 May 2019
The past few years have seen landmark after landmark in sales pass by for the electric car:
- First half of 2018 – 1 million plug-in EVs sold in Europe total
- September 2018 – 1 million plug-in EVs sold in the US total
- September 2018 – 2 million plug-in EVs sold in China total
- December 2018 – Annual sales of EVs in China passed 1 million (Wikipedia)
There are now well over 7 million EVs on roads around the world. For example, 10% of passenger cars on the road in Norway are plug-in EVs!
Tesla and the Changing of Minds
Regardless of whether you love them or hate them, Elon Musk’s Tesla Motors changed everyone’s idea of what an electric vehicle was. The Tesla Model S, for example, has a top speed of 155 miles per hour. It’s shocking when you realize that it’s silent except for tires on the pavement.
Tesla ushered in a change in the perspective of EVs that we sorely needed. Electric motors can provide a lot of horsepower. This Nissan Leaf, not a performance vehicle like the Tesla, has a top speed of nearly 100 miles per hour.
One thing that has changed significantly is range. Early plug-ins could only go about 50 miles. The Leaf can go 150 miles and the Tesla S about 200. Given that the average American commute 16 miles to work, these vehicles have more than enough power for most people.
Recharging EVs
Another major change that has occurred is that charging vehicles is faster and simpler than ever. Rather than being a complex system, the EV Meter charging points are simpler and safer than a gasoline pump. With cashless payment, from credit cards, contactless credit cards, QR codes and mobile wallets, drivers can simply plug their cars in wherever they are.
EV Meter charges can be found in front of workplaces, shopping malls and more. Because there are different models, ranging from a stand-alone pedestal to mini-meters, charging an EV is even more convenient than refilling a gasoline vehicle; your “gas tank” is refilling while you work, shop, or even play in the park.
There are even prepaid cards for closed loop environments, such as workplaces or residential settings where the landowner wants to restrict the number of users but also want to support sustainability.
The Future of Electric Vehicles
The future of EVs seems to be under hot debate, except among consumers.
There has been a constant flow of misinformation that EVs are even less efficient than a gas-powered car. There is no science to this idea.
“EVs convert about 59%–62% of the electrical energy from the grid to power at the wheels. Conventional gasoline vehicles only convert about 17%–21% of the energy stored in gasoline to power at the wheels.” – US Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
The interesting thing is that consumers know this to be true, even if they don’t have engineering degrees. The reality is that the average driver can save about $1400 a year on energy costs by eliminating gasoline.
The biggest concern that is expressed in negative literature is that an electric vehicle is polluting if the electricity is created by a coal-fired power plant. As there is a movement toward renewable energy from solar, wind, and geothermal, this is less of a concern.
So, what is the future of EVs?
“Electrification, you cannot stop it anymore — it’s coming,” says Elmer Kades, a managing director with the consulting firm AlixPartners. “We have fantastic growth rates, between 50 and 60 percent on a global level.” – Cleantechnica.com, March 18, 2019
With China and the US, the two largest economies in the world, buying more EVs than ever before, and a movement in the trucking industry to convert to electric semis, electric vehicles are here to stay and will grow.
There have even been conversations in California and parts of Europe to convert states and nations to 100% electric vehicles by mid-century. While there are not yet laws on the books, the intention is there, and it won’t be long before there is a push in that direction.
Companies like EV Meter are working hard to make owning a plug-in vehicle even more convenient than owning a gas car. With the ease of charging stations anywhere there is 440V power and cashless payment, the move toward EVs is inevitable and will be great for the environment and consumers’ wallets.
