10 Jul Trends in electric vehicles and what it means for you
Volvo have announced that from 2019, all their new vehicles will be partially or completely battery powered.
Between 2019 and 2021 they will introduce 5 new cars which will be 100% electric. The rest of their range will be hybrids. This has been described as a key moment in the move towards a more environmentally friendly planet.
The number of electric cars on the road globally hit 2 million in 2016, a considerable increase from previous years. And we can expect this number to grow exponentially, with expectations that electric cars might be outcompeting combustion engines by the mid-2020s.
At this time, customer demand for electric vehicles is increasing, battery costs have come down, and there is an increasing movement to implementing the appropriate infrastructure.
We can see this trend in the UK, and around the world. France is set to ban the sale of any car that uses petrol or diesel fuel by 2040 in a revolutionary move towards them becoming a carbon neutral country by 2050. Similarly, Norway and the Netherlands are keen to make the move to electric-only vehicles by 2025.
In more immediate news, TfL recently announced an £18 million investment in to rapid charge points around the capital and Leeds have followed suit, with a £2 million subsidy from the government focused on getting electric vehicles on the road. A proportion of this is going towards rapid charge points for the taxi and private hire industry.
The impact of this investment relies on the industry being receptive to these changes, and of course will not happen overnight. Electric cars are still not affordable for all, and until the infrastructure is in place, they will not be the most convenient modes of transport.
So what does this mean for you?
It is important to consider what electric cars would mean for your fleet. There are several clear advantages to having a ‘green fleet’. Firstly, customers are often big advocates of environmentally friendly changes. Many are willing to pay more for a journey that will not harm the environment, so this can be a valuable selling point.
But what about cost? The running costs of an electric car have always been low, it has just been the initial price which was off putting. However as their popularity soars, the cost is decreasing. In addition to this, governments sometimes offer incentives for low emission vehicles which can really make them worth your while.
Practicality has also been a common concern. Having a fleet of electric cars in the last few years would have taken a significant amount of planning in regards to charging: the time it took, and the places where it can be done. However, as stated earlier, the country is making massive leaps forwards in both these areas. Charging points are becoming more commonplace throughout cities, and can charge a vehicle in only 30 minutes!
Greenpeace have stated that ‘we know electric cars are the future’, and this trend is clear to see. It is not something you need to act on today, or even this year. But it is worth bearing in mind that these moves by Volvo and various governments are likely to be imitated by others. With the infrastructure improving, and car manufacturers getting in on the game, soon it may well be the time for you to invest in that electric car you’ve had your eye on.