There has been a lot of talk lately about electric vehicles, zero-emission vehicles.
and the banning of some internal combustion engine vehicles from city centers or even entire countries.
Furthermore, manufacturers increasingly seem to be promoting such solutions (electricity) that are certain to come to the market in the coming years.
But let's look at some characteristics of electric cars and zero-emission vehicles in relation to some initiatives that need to be taken so that we can have a more complete picture of what we will face in the next decade.
So we have and say:
• In recent years, the automotive industry has shown signs of moving away from conventionally fueled internal combustion engines (ICEs), so any bans on vehicles with ICs may not be as effective as incentives for their replacement.
On the other hand, there are concerns that there is currently not enough supply of electric vehicles to meet demand.
The tax incentives that the state can provide are becoming of enormous importance (I cite California as an example, which is a pioneer in such policies) as car users become more rational buyers, but in the past, tax incentives were not an important criterion for choosing to purchase an electric vehicle, as the first enthusiasts of this technology would have bought the cars anyway.
However, the average profile of an electric vehicle owner is a middle-aged person with a high income ($250K household income – even $310K for Tesla users).
The economic incentives are now ending as sales volumes are being met and it would be interesting to see how the market reacts from now on. I will mention another example of a country (India) where the transition to electric vehicles took place in the absence of any regulation – I am referring to the 2 and 3 wheeled vehicles, also known as Tuk Tuk, and widely used for passenger transport especially in city centers – which constitute for this country the largest percentage of the electric vehicle fleet.
India has therefore implemented a series of tax and other measures, with cars not being the main target of these measures, since they focus on the means of passenger transport and specifically on the number of passengers per vehicle – more specifically on buses and 2-3 wheeled vehicles which, as I mentioned above, are very widespread in India.
• “Range anxiety” is still an issue for users of these vehicles, but average daily trips of electric cars (~30 kilometers) are much shorter than the total range of the vehicle and the ability to charge overnight may render the question about range invalid.
The relatively large size combined with the high battery weight of these vehicles (to address range concerns) may not be the optimal solution for relatively short journeys, and reducing battery size should become the norm here.
However, solutions need to be found for long distances and long journeys, as well as for other energy sources – hydrogen as an example.
Passenger cars and light commercial vehicles are no longer difficult to decarbonise, but for the prices of zero-emission vehicles to fall there must be a high demand to make them attractive and interesting to drivers.
However, until the price reduction is achieved, it is important that there is some form of support from the competent bodies.
Technology and innovation can play an important role in reducing prices and costs, as it is known that low prices lead to consumer adoption of technology.
It is a given that there will be a used market for electric vehicles. The value of these vehicles at the end of their life will also be important. The role of companies and dealerships will change in the future to support the adoption of electric vehicles and their users.
• The case of the Chinese NIO that introduced the concept with the removable battery and the battery exchange system is interesting for densely populated cities without individual charging points during the night (for full charging).
They are looking at expanding this project to Europe, but the business model needs to be proven first (it currently appears to be losing ~50%). Electricity utilities are now starting to become software and service providers.
The consumer-centric approach and market interoperability focuses on consumers in such a way that
in a way that they can receive one bill regardless of the charging point which may be located at different latitudes of the country.
Interoperability of electric vehicle charging is a growing part of renewable energy. Bidirectional charging solutions unlock the flexibility of electric vehicles but are not yet fully developed, as needs are different and there are practical difficulties surrounding bidirectional solutions.
• The integration of RES and the electrification of transport constitute the greatest challenge for reducing carbon dioxide emissions, while the intensive presence of fossil fuels constitutes the greatest obstacle to reducing emissions in transport and mobility.
According to proponents of transport electrification, there is a need to shift policies into packages of measures for a multifaceted policy and its promotion.
Furthermore, there is a need to regulate and coordinate the various policies that will be adopted. Mobility is the largest component of Northern Europe's energy footprint, with aviation accounting for the largest part of it.
People on their own and without incentives are less likely to reduce emissions from mobility, since vehicles are essential to their lifestyle and they feel that governments or someone else should be involved in decarbonizing mobility.
The ethical implications of electric mobility for vulnerable communities linked to both battery production and the second-hand market are
important.
It is certain that all of the above will concern us in the near future and solutions would be good to find before it is too late. The conversation that has begun about reducing carbon dioxide emissions and climate change will obviously intensify when specific goals need to be achieved.
The automotive industry is working in a specific direction and the state, with its own institutions, should follow and accelerate, where possible, developments.
The transition period will not be easy since the interests at stake are great, but at least let us each try our part for the best possible outcome.