Hybrid and electric cars are more likely to hit pedestrians than conventional cars, primarily in cities where such incidents are three times more likely, according to an analysis of road accidents in Britain. Such data were released in May 2024.

Researchers suspect that the increased danger of electric vehicles is due to a number of factors. Drivers of electric cars are usually younger and less experienced than those who use ordinary cars, and the electric cars themselves are much quieter than cars with internal combustion engines, which makes their approach more difficult to hear, especially in noisy cities. In addition, electric cars accelerate quickly and are much heavier than conventional cars, which leads to an increase in the braking distance. Pedestrians have become accustomed to navigating the roads by listening to traffic, transport and electric car drivers should consider this and be particularly careful.

Electric cars are more likely to hit pedestrians

Earlier, a US Department of Transportation report showed that the risk to pedestrians from electric and hybrid cars in normal circumstances is 20% higher than from cars with an internal combustion engine, and 50% higher when driving at low speed, for example, when turning, reversing and gradually stopping. For this reason, from July 2019, all new hybrid and electric cars sold in Europe must be equipped with an acoustic warning system that makes noise similar to that of an internal combustion engine when the car is moving slowly. However, by 2024, hundreds of thousands of electric vehicles without such devices are driving on the roads.

The government should make sure that similar systems are installed on all electric vehicles regardless of year of production, "noted Professor Phil Edwards, lead author of the study.^[1]

2023

Production of electric vehicles is 70% more polluting than conventional cars

In early June 2023, British comedian Rowan Atkinson, best known in the world for his role as Mr. Bean in the television series of the same name, said that electric cars may not be as useful for the environment as they seem at first glance and as the automakers say.

According to him, electric machines are wonderful mechanisms: they are "fast, quiet and until recently very cheap to operate." But at the same time, Atkinson emphasizes, he feels "a little deceived" when it comes to facts.

Production of electric vehicles pollutes the environment more than ordinary cars

Electric cars, of course, have zero exhaust emissions, which is a welcome achievement, especially with regard to air quality in metropolitan areas. But if you dig deeper and look at the bigger picture involving the production of the car, the situation will be completely different, - notes the British comedian.

Atkinson mentions a study by Volvo Cars, which states that the process of manufacturing electrified vehicles has a significantly greater negative impact on the environment than the production of conventional gasoline and diesel cars. So, for example, emissions in the production of an electric car S40 Recharge are 70% higher than in the production of KhS40 with a gasoline engine. The main reason for this difference is the significant amount of carbon emissions in the manufacture of batteries and steel, as well as a significant increase in the share of aluminum in the design of electric vehicles in order to reduce the total mass.

Therefore, as noted, it is necessary to introduce fundamentally new production technologies that take into account the features of electric vehicles. This may be, for example, the creation of hydrocarbon-free steel minerals or the release of batteries solely using energy from renewable sources.^[2]

Electric cars wear tires 30% faster than regular cars

On May 19, 2023, Bridgestone announced Turanza EV tires designed specifically for electrified vehicles. It is claimed that the novelty solves the problem of rapid wear inherent in ordinary tires when used on electric cars. Read more here.

Why electric cars are less likely to get into an accident

In mid-January 2023, the American Insurance Institute for Road Safety studied the features of accidents involving electric vehicles based on crash tests. As a result, the nonprofit found that the effects of crashes involving electric vehicles come out less frequently compared to models on an internal combustion engine.

Experts have listed the reasons why electric cars are considered safer than cars with an internal combustion engine.

According to the test results, it turned out that electric cars are less likely to get into an accident

The authors noted that thanks to the battery located under the bottom, electric vehicles have a lower center of gravity. This allows you to maneuver the car at high speeds and prevents overturning.

Experts also stressed that electric cars are more advanced - as a rule, their manufacturers pay attention to technologies that can reduce the negative consequences of accidents.

In favor of high safety of electric vehicles, not only the results of crash tests from IIHS, but also statistics of real accidents. According to IIHS, from 2011 to 2019, the number of reports of injuries to people in electric vehicles in road accidents was 40% lower compared to ordinary cars over the same period.^[3]

According to the Insurance Institute for Road Safety (IIHS), modern electrically driven vehicles in emergency situations benefit from greater mass and a low center of gravity. The main threat to the life of the driver and passengers of electric cars is associated with the risk of fire, IIHS experts say.

The IIHS converted the crash test site to break cars weighing up to 4.3 tons on it - this is due to the large mass of electric machines. For example, the electric version of the Hummer SUV weighs 4.1 tons, and the Tesla Model S electric sedan weighs 2.1 tons. On the IIHS test site, cars are subjected to head-on collisions, collisions with various ceilings and roof strength tests at speeds up to 65 km/h.

According to IIHS data, the best-selling electric vehicles for 2022 have an enviable track record in IIHS safety ratings: Tesla Model 3 and Y-model received Top Safety Pick +, as did Hyundai Ioniq5 and Kia EV6. Although the IIHS noted that the bottom of the A-rack in the Tesla Model 3 is bent back about 20 cm. Ford Mustang Mach-E does not reach the standard Top Safety Pick, partly due to poor standard headlights.

The IIHS subjects electric vehicles to the same crash tests as conventional vehicles: a full head-on collision, various overlapping collisions, roof integrity tests. Heavier cars typically push lighter cars, transferring less energy to passengers of a heavier car. The increased safety of people in electric vehicles is due to their large weight and low center of gravity due to batteries.

2021

Ford started selling electric motors to turn ordinary cars into electric

In early November 2021, Ford began separately selling electric engines to convert cars into electric vehicles. This is a system that is used in the Mustang Mach-E GT electric car. The Eluminator e-crate electric motor develops a power of 281 liters. from. and 433 N·m of torque. Read more here.

Hyundai introduced 90-degree invertible wheels for electric vehicles

On October 24, 2021, South Korean car parts manufacturer Hyundai Mobis announced that it has developed an integrated e-Corner Module universal wheel system that includes steering, braking, suspension and drive elements. A wheel system capable of turning the wheel at different angles is considered an important aspect of specialized vehicles such as autonomous shuttles and compact electric buses. Read more here.

British government gives BMW $36.07 million to create batteries for "long-range" electric vehicles

In mid-August 2021, it was reported that a project from BMW to develop a battery for long-distance electric vehicles received $36.07 million in joint funding from industry and the UK government. Read more here.

Sales of an electric tractor with 8-hour work without recharging began

In early August 2021, the developer of electric tractors Solectrac announced the sale of a tractor e70N with a capacity of 70 hp, which can work without recharging for 8 hours. The company has already supplied such tractors California to three farms in North as part of an emissions reduction program grant in. agriculture Read more. here

Biden approves strategy to dispose of electric vehicle batteries

In early June 2021, US President Joe Biden approved a strategy for recycling electric vehicle batteries. It is assumed that the decommissioned batteries will be recycled for the purpose of extracting and reusing lithium and other metals. Read more here.

2020

Panasonic backs self-driving flying electric car startup

On August 19, 2020, it became known that the The Japanese corporation Panasonic , in partnership with other Japanese and international companies, supported a project to SkyDrive Inc. create a flying one, autopiloted electric transport which in the foreseeable future should make flights a new form of urban mobility. More. here

Production of electric vehicles recognized as unprofitable

The costs incurred by manufacturers in the design of electric vehicles are still higher than their sales price, the American analytical company Lux Research informed in its review The Electric Vehicle Inflection Tracker: 2020 Edition^[4].

At the same time, one of the solutions to the problems with profitability is to enable motorists to drive a car whose battery has a high charge speed and high mileage.

This is still available only for expensive models. At the same time, the price is still gradually decreasing, analysts at the American company say. The average market mileage has now reached 230 miles, and the average suggested retail price of the base car manufacturer (MSRP) in 2019 was $33,901, compared to $42,189 in 2016, senior analyst Chris Robinson comments on the study.

He also believes there has been an increasing focus on electrification of expensive brands recently. Luxury brands offer cars at higher prices that can accommodate the extra cost of a battery pack.

Battery shortages have already led some automakers to scale back their production plans for electric vehicles, Lux Research estimates.

To solve this problem, which will only get worse over the next few years, when more electric vehicles enter the market, automakers must ensure the supply of raw materials for batteries - cobalt and lithium. Another key strategy, analysts say, is to balance the platform's flexibility. Large original equipment manufacturers can afford to develop specialized platforms that save money, but smaller manufacturers must remain flexible.

Panasonic reveals first examples of compact electric vehicles for business

On February 12, 2020, TAdviser learned that two fully production-ready models of compact electric vehicles for business (eCUV1) were presented by Panasonic Corporation and California startup Tropos Motors. The compact fire engine and refrigerator car are designed for small companies providing various services on the "last mile," commercial fleets, utilities (including emergency), etc. More details here.

2019

Police spent millions on hundreds of electric cars and admitted their inefficiency

At the end of December 2019, it became known that the Metropolitan Police Service in London spent a large amount of money on the purchase of electric vehicles, but in the end recognized the inefficiency of the project. It turned out to be impossible to use electric vehicles in emergency situations, since they can have batteries at any time. Read more here.

Mazda explains the use of a small capacity battery in the MX-30

Electric cars that travel long without recharging are worse for the environment than diesel cars. This opinion was expressed at the end of December 2019 in a conversation with Automotive News by the director of research at the European representative office of Mazda, Christian Schultze. Read more here.

Hyundai allocated $52 billion for the development of electric vehicles

In early December 2019, Hyundai announced the allocation of 61.1 trillion won ($52 billion) for the development of electric vehicles. Such plans are contained in the published roadmap "Strategy 2025." Read more here

BMW unveils first premium electric sedan

On November 18, 2019, BMW Group introduced the first premium electric sedan in its range. It was named BMW i4. Read more here.

Mazda unveils its first electric car

October 22, 2019 at the car dealership Tokyo in the company Mazda presented the first electric vehicle in its assortment. Crossover MX-30 received swing rear-open doors opening against the direction of movement. This design was used in the Mazda RX-8 sports car, which was produced until 2012. More. here

Electric car owners will be able to choose sounds for driving at low speeds

In mid-September 2019, it became known that owners of electric vehicles will be able to choose for themselves what sounds they want to use when driving at low speeds. The fact is that since 2018, automakers have been integrating noise generators into electric cars and hybrid cars, which are activated when the vehicle drives slowly. These noise systems warn pedestrians when a car is approaching.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Authority USA said drivers should "choose a preferred sound from a set of signals installed in the vehicle." However, regulators do not yet know whether to limit the number of artificial sounds that manufacturers will install in electric vehicles.

Owners of electric vehicles will be able to choose for themselves what sounds they want to use when driving at low speeds

Electric cars are quieter than their combustion engine counterparts. The only noise produced by an electric car is usually caused by wind resistance or tire noise, but it only occurs at moderate to high speeds. It is assumed that in the United States by 2020 there should be no electric cars without artificial sound signals at low speeds (30 km/h or less), ensuring the safety of pedestrians, especially the blind or visually impaired. In the European Union, the transition should be completed by the end of 2021.

Some automakers have already chosen sounds for their electric vehicles, like Mercedes-Benz, who collaborated with rock band Linkin Park. Other manufacturers are looking for workarounds. In 2018, Ford tried to get a silent driving permit for a line of police cars. The company requested that a "noise switch" be built into these vehicles - presumably so that law enforcement officers could use electric vehicles to silently spy on suspects.^[5]

Britons ordered to build houses with electric car chargers

In early September 2019, a bill came into force in the UK, according to which all new houses should be equipped with a charging point for electric vehicles, even if the owners of the house do not have it. The project was another move by the government to ban sales of diesel and petrol vehicles altogether. Read more here.

CB Insights: What's stopping electric cars from taking over the market

The number of electric vehicles is growing around the world, and one of the most rapidly developing markets in this regard remains. China So, in 2017, it was the inhabitants of the Celestial Empire who bought more than half of all electric cars sold worldwide (about 1.1 million cars). For comparison: European sales slightly exceeded 400 thousand cars, and sales USA did not reach this level either. Environmental friendliness remains among the obvious advantages China of electric vehicles - the same problem of reducing air pollution is extremely acute. However, the victory on the roads seems transport to be still a long way off: at least today, all over the world, only every 250th car has an electric motor. Analysts at the research company CB Insights see three key barriers to overcome the new industry in order for electric vehicles to become truly massive. What^[6]

Price and again price

One of the main barriers to buying an electric car compared to a traditional car today remains the price, according to CB Insights, as well as the cost of maintenance. Even in 2017, two of the three best-selling electric car models were worth more than $80,000, well above potential owners "budgets. According to a study from UBS, in which about 10,000 people took part in the 6 largest markets in the world, families with an income of $300,000 per year are ready to buy electric cars (even in the United States, this group makes up only 3% of the population). Moreover, 60% of buyers are not ready to pay a large price for an electric car, according to a 2018 McKinsey survey. And 30% of respondents even stated that electric cars should be cheaper than ordinary cars.

Meanwhile, prices for electric cars are becoming more competitive, mainly due to the improvement of batteries. Since 2010, battery prices have decreased by more than 80%: from $1000 per kilowatt-hour of capacity to $209. If in 2015 the battery was more than 57% of the total cost of an average sedan in the United States, then in 2019 this figure will be about 33%. As noted in CB Insights, by 2025 the cost of a battery will be only 20% of the price of an electric car.

If we evaluate such an indicator as the total cost of owning an electric car, then today it is becoming less and less. So, according to the University of Michigan from 2018, electric cars cost owners half the price of cars with traditional engines. This can become a very significant factor for the purchase of an electric car, according to CB Insights. At least in a survey by Consumer Reports, 66% of potential buyers said long-term cost savings would affect their buying decision.

You can't go far

The price tag is not the only consideration for which buyers refuse to own an electric car. So far, there are serious doubts on the market about how practical it is in principle to own such transport and whether electric vehicles are ready to meet the daily needs of the driver.

Concerns relate primarily to battery life and charging speed. A typical fuel-powered sedan can travel 400-600 miles before refueling, which also takes about 10 minutes. The average mileage for electric vehicles in the US 2018 year without recharging is just 125 miles, with charging taking between 30 minutes and 20 hours, depending on the type of charger and battery.

However, these restrictions are gradually being lifted - for example, the average mileage of electric vehicles without recharging from 2011 to 2017 increased by 56%, and as of 2019, 8 models of electric vehicles have already been presented on the market, which can travel more than 200 miles. Moreover, according to forecasts from CleanTechnica, electric vehicles in the United States will average 400 miles by 2028. It is expected that the charging time of electric car batteries will also be reduced - by 2025, only about half an hour will be required to reach 80% of the charge.

There is not enough infrastructure The most important problem impeding the more active development of electric transport remains a catastrophic lack of infrastructure. Thus, more than half of the US residents surveyed by the American Association of Motorists (AAA) said they were not ready to purchase an electric car precisely because of the lack of infrastructure for recharging.

It is this barrier that looks the most difficult to overcome, because business is simply not ready to invest in the development of charging stations until a sufficient number of electric cars appear on the roads. This is simply too expensive - so, according to Goldman Sachs, about $6 trillion is required to develop the necessary infrastructure. As a result, so far there are about 632,000 public charging stations in the world, which serve about 5 million electric vehicles, and about half of them are located in China. The International Energy Agency predicts that up to 30 million public chargers will be needed to service passenger vehicles around the world by 2030.

Europe obliges electric cars to make noise on the roads

On July 1, 2019, rules came into force in Europe obliging manufacturers to install noise generators on electric cars. This is done so that cars on electric traction are heard on the road and safe for pedestrians.

The Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS), which from July 1 should be installed on every new fully electric and hybrid vehicle in the EU, automatically generates sound at speeds from 20 km/h and below.

A law has come into force in the European Union requiring manufacturers to equip new models of electric and hybrid cars with a system that makes noise while driving at low speed

If the car is equipped with an internal combustion engine (this refers to hybrids), the AVAS system may not produce sound at the specified speeds if the engine itself produces it. The noise generator must be equipped with a mode switch that the driver of the vehicle can use. When starting the car, AVAS must be turned on automatically.

The law does not oblige to simulate the sounds of an internal combustion engine, but imposes requirements on the volume of the system. At a speed of 20 km/h, it should be at least 56 decibels and not more than 75 decibels. In addition, the frequency of the sound should change when the speed changes, and the reverse should be accompanied by a separate sound.

A silent engine is one of the features of electric vehicles. The charity Guide Dogs, which complained that electric cars were not audible, believes sound alarms should be used when driving at any speed.

Roads Minister Michael Ellis said the government wanted to bring the benefits of electric transport to all people and understood the challenges facing people with visual impairment. Ellis stressed that the new requirements "will give pedestrians confidence when crossing the road."^[7]

Unmanned electric trucks appeared on public roads

On May 15, 2019, a logistics service provider DB Schenker and a Swedish startup Einride began, according to companies, the world's first regular cargo transportation with help from pilotless electric vehicles public roads. More. here

Bosch announces mass production of hydrogen fuel cells

On April 29, 2019, Bosch announced the start of mass production of hydrogen fuel cells. With their help, the range of electric vehicles will increase, and trucks will become less harmful to the environment. Read more here.

Electric cars in Norway began to sell more than regular cars

In early April 2019, it became known about a landmark event in the history of the Norwegian market. 58.4% of new cars sold in the country in March were electric vehicles. Read more here.

The world's first wireless chargers for electric taxi have been launched

Since mid-March 2019, Norway has launched a project to install wireless charging systems for electric taxis. Oslo will be the first city in the world to install such charges. Norway has embarked on the initiative in the hope of making charging fast and efficient enough to launch a fleet of eco-friendly taxis as soon as possible. Read more here.

2018

How Norway with large oil reserves became the leader in sales of electric vehicles

By the end of 2018, electric cars account for about 30% of sales of new cars in. Norway For comparison, in general To Europe , this figure does not exceed 2%, USA and in is about 1-2%.

According to The New York Times (NYT), the key factor in the success of electric vehicles in Norway is large subsidies and benefits for the purchase of this vehicle. To encourage sales, the Norwegian government abolished duties on the import of cars with electric motors, as well as taxes on their registration and sale to buyers. Owners drive free on toll roads, use ferries, parking discounts and bus lanes in congested city centres. It is planned that by 2025 only cars with zero emissions of harmful substances will be sold in Norway.

Electric vehicles are highly common in Norway thanks to government support

The Norwegian government has successfully managed to increase the number of electric vehicles on the roads at the expense of an economy rich in oil production. As of 2016, Norway was ranked 13th in the ranking of countries for oil production, according to an OPEC report.

The benefits, which cost the government almost $1 billion in 2018, will be gradually reduced by 2021, although the fare on toll roads for electric car owners will still be half the amount that will be charged to gasoline-powered cars. Gradually, it is planned to replace subsidies for electric vehicles with higher taxes on traditional cars.

Using taxes as an incentive to switch to cleaner energy for cars could prove challenging for the government. Despite the fact that the country has a high level of income, prices here are also higher than in Europe as a whole.

Buying a Tesla X model is not much more expensive than buying a premium Volvo SUV because gasoline cars are subject to high taxes, said Christina Bu, secretary general of the Norwegian Association of Electric Car Owners.

The Tesla Model X SUV, which is chosen by wealthy eco-oriented Norwegians, costs about 900,000 kronor (7 million rubles). At the same time, the premium SUV Volvo XC90 costs 919,000 crowns (7.3 million rubles) in Norway, and $47,700 in the United States.

At the end of 2018, thanks to its longer battery life, Tesla dominates the luxury family electric car segment, but more premium brands such as Audi with the e-tron model are entering the market. Demand still outstrips supply and Norwegians have to wait up to a year to get their hands on a new electric car.

By 2030, Norway pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% from 1990 levels. The country has a lot to work on: by 2017, emissions were up 3% from the 1990 baseline. Reducing emissions from road transport would allow Norway to reduce the amount it would spend on acquiring emissions certificates from other European countries to achieve its goal. The savings run into billions, potentially balancing the cost of subsidising electric vehicles.

However, according to experts, in order for sales of electric vehicles to continue to grow, the market must develop. At the end of 2018, the battery has an average life of 5-10 years, and its replacement could potentially exceed the cost of a new car many times over. Fast battery charging stations are slower than gas stations, and on Norway's often empty mountain roads, they are economically unprofitable despite government subsidies for private companies that install them. Even in city centers, the construction of such points has not kept up with sales, so owners are forced to wait in queues to charge their electric car.^[8]^[9]

How electric cars are transformed from niche products to what "people want to buy"

In a December 2018 interview with CNBC, Kelley Blue Book executive analyst Rebecca Lindland said that the situation in the car market is starting to change, and "we can finally see the products that people want to buy." And although the share of electric vehicles is still less than 2% of the monthly number of new cars sold, this value will grow, she is sure.

Electric cars are no longer niche products

In November 2018 Tesla , it sold about 20,500 cars. According to the Clean Technica portal, this made it possible for the company to occupy 27% of the luxury car market, while BMW Group it had 22% and Mercedes-Benz 20%. Lindland herself recently tested a new electric car from. e-tron Audi

It's a car that is finally normal, "she said. "It looks like a regular car, even when you brake. Often, the regenerative brake - the brake that brings energy back to the battery - really works quickly; it looks like a sharp jerk. Here he was completely smooth.

The cost of e-tron starts at $74,800, and deliveries will start in the second quarter of 2019. Lindland noted that electric cars are not only in the luxury price segment. The 2019 model year Chevrolet Bolt starts at $36,620 and the Nissan Leaf starts at $29,990.

The problem, however, is how federal and regional stimulus programs work, Lindland said. By the end of December 2018, buyers of electric vehicles in the United States are provided with a subsidy of up to $7,500. But when a manufacturer sells 200,000 electric vehicles, the perks cease to apply.

One-time tax breaks in the amount of $3,500 to $7,500 were introduced in the United States in 2010 to stimulate sales of electric vehicles. During this time, Tesla has already reached the milestone when the tax credit fell to $3,750. From July 1, 2019, it will be reduced to $1875, and from December 31, 2019, it will be completely canceled.

We're incentivising the wrong people: the first ones who are willing to take the risk and who have the money, "Lindland says. - They will still buy these cars, and the $7,500 discount for them is only a small bonus.^[10]^[11]

The problem of the small range of electric vehicles is solved

In April 2018, the head of the Renault-Nissan alliance, Carlos Ghosn, said that the problem of short driving of electric vehicles without recharging, which for many years worried potential buyers, has been resolved, and now the automakers Nissan Motor, Renault and Mitsubishi Motors have focused on reducing the cost of this type of transport.

We noticed that consumers no longer talk about power reserve or autonomy while they are guaranteed to ride more than 300 km, "Ghosn said in a conversation with reporters in Hong Kong.

He said carmakers had come to the conclusion that the 300km "range" figure was a milestone, with drivers travelling around 50km a day on average.

This could not be guessed from the results of research. It took the presence of 500 thousand electric cars in the world to understand that consumers no longer include power reserve in the list of main problems when they travel 300 km, - said the head of Renault-Nissan.

The model range of the Franco-Japanese alliance has electric vehicles capable of driving more than 300km without connecting to chargers. Among them is the compact urban hatchback Zoe EV. In addition, the 2019 model year Nissan Leaf has been announced, with a range exceeding 360 km.

Carlos Ghosn says when choosing an electric machine, people look at functionality and cost of ownership in the first place, but not technology. Nissan intends to bet on non-low-cost electric cars - at least in China, where, as Ghosn noted, "very, very affordable cars" are sold. Nissan is returning to the Chinese electric vehicle market with a version of the Kwid crossover created in a joint venture with Dongfeng Motor Group.^[12]

Sweden builds road to recharge electric vehicles

The Swedish government plans to build a network of roads that allow electric cars to be charged right on the way, without stopping. This was reported in April 2018 by The Guardian^[13].

Innovative roads are equipped with a "charged section" in which a contact rail is laid, as in the metro. It can charge the car through a rigid wire that contacts the rail. The Transport Authority of Sweden presented a video that demonstrates the principle of the road. Moreover, the video shows not a passenger electric car, but a DAF truck.

Such roads will be able to make electric cars more in demand, as they will solve the problem of long-term recharging - now it takes several hours, which makes electric cars unsuitable for long distances.

So far, the Swedes have laid only 2 kilometers of the "charged road." The cost of 1 kilometer of such electrification is 1 million euros, which makes it not too expensive - in Europe, the cost of a kilometer of roads is about 6 million euros. For Russia, the costs would be almost insensitive, since the cost of a kilometer in our country, as a rule, exceeds 15 million euros.

Automakers have already invested more than $90 billion in electric vehicles

Compared to the entire automotive market, this amount may seem small, but it is worth recalling that electric cars are so far only 1% of those 90 million cars sold annually in the world. And in terms of this percentage, the amount of investment looks much more impressive, writes Reuters^[14].

Investments in the creation of electric cars, which were announced by the largest automakers, were distributed as follows:

US companies account for $19 billion,
from China - $21 billion,
from Germany - $52 billion.

Automakers confirm that such a wave of investment arose due to the formation of favorable conditions. At the same time, Reuters writes, most of these investments are directed to the Chinese market: American and European car companies see this country as the largest market for electric vehicles.

The latest news from the world of investment in electric vehicles was the statement by Ford Chairman Bill Ford that the company will spend $11 billion on electrification of its lineup. The company promised that 2022 electric and hybrid models will be released by 40, including a full-fledged electric SUV.

Prior to that, Ford had already stated that they were investing in the development of electric transport, but the amount and scale were less. It was reported that in the future the company will present 13 new models of electric vehicles and invest $4.5 billion in this. Later, the manufacturer spoke about 7 new models, the production of which plans to engage in. This list includes: a new all-electric SUV that can travel about 480 kilometers (untitled) on a single battery charge, an F-150 hybrid SUV and a Mustang sports car, a Transit Custom plug-in hybrid minivan and two new electric vehicles for the police; the seventh novelty was a hybrid self-driving car, which Ford plans to make by 2021.

Daimler also got involved in the investment race. The German company is going to invest a similar amount - $11.7 billion. In the future, we should see 10 all-electric Mercedes and 40 hybrids: from the smallest cars to large trucks for business. Daimler also invests $1 billion in the production of electric vehicles and batteries in the United States. Automakers are making big bets on electric cars, but the client will ultimately decide anyway. It is still difficult to say whether there will be sufficient demand for electric vehicles in the future. But analysts predict that in the US, for example, 15-20% of cars sold will be electric by 2030.

Electric cars cost half the price of traditional cars

On January 11, 2018, Michael Sivak and Brandon Schoettle of the University of Michigan published the results of their fuel cost study, according to which electric cars cost half the price of traditional counterparts. So the average cost of operating an electric car in the United States is $485 per year, and a car with a gasoline or diesel engine is $1,117.

This study estimated only fuel costs, however, maintenance of electric vehicles is cheaper overall because they have fewer moving and wearing parts and do not require such a powerful cooling system or air filters, toothed belts and spark plugs.

Электромобиль Tesla Model S

Although the difference in fuel costs can vary significantly depending on the region, maintenance of an electric car is always cheaper than that of ordinary vehicles.

Former US President Barack Obama tried to legally limit fuel consumption, planning to bring economy standards to 54.5 miles per gallon (approximately 4.3 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers of mileage) over several years. These measures were aimed at ensuring that traditional automaking did not collapse under the onslaught of rapidly developing electric vehicles and could adequately compete in the market with environmentally friendly vehicles. However, in 2017, the new head of state, Donald Trump, advocated the repeal of this law, explaining this by the desire to return Detroit to the title of "capital of the automotive world."

However, the emphasis on inefficient traditional cars is unlikely to allow Detroit to achieve this goal. Electric cars still make up just 1% of U.S. vehicles (5% in California), but sales are rising, and the availability of chargers and range of the new mode of transportation are no longer an issue.^[15]

All Shenzhen public transport turned electric

Shenzhen, a metropolis in southeast China with 12 million people, has completed the transfer of land public transport to electric traction - no city bus is now polluting the air^[16].

Municipal transport reform in Shenzhen was completed as scheduled and all 16,359 buses now run on electricity rather than diesel - a significant achievement for such a large city. Shenzhen is considered China's Silicon Valley - the headquarters of large Internet companies, many startups and representative offices of China's largest electric transport manufacturer, BYD, are located here.

Now, over the year, Shenzhen buses will save 345 thousand tons of fuel and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1.35 million tons. Electric taxis will save another 116 thousand tons of fuel per year and reduce SO2 emissions by 454 tons.

The implementation of the pilot program for the transition to clean public transport began in 2009, when Shenzhen was selected among thirteen participating cities. Since then, the metropolis has taken active measures to electrify the bus and taxi fleet. In 2017, the city authorities allocated subsidies for the purchase of electric buses and charging stations in the amount of $430 million.

Such a significant fleet of electric buses requires extensive infrastructure. Shenzhen now has 510 charging stations with a total number of charging points of 8,000, so that at the same time the city can charge almost half of its electric buses. It takes about 2 hours to fill the battery, one such point can serve up to 300 electric buses per day, Gas2 reports.

China extends benefits for electric vehicles

China extended tax breaks for electric vehicles that ended this December. Now the grace period has been extended until 2020 for electric vehicles, hybrids, plug-in hybrids and fuel cell cars^[17].

The extension of benefits should motivate manufacturers to maximize the range of electric vehicles in the Chinese market. The reason was also the upcoming tightening of environmental requirements for vehicles sold in China in 2019.

The hybrid and electric vehicle market in China is growing very well. Sales increased 51.4% from January to November 2017, in contrast to sales overall, which declined slightly just in 2017. According to some reports, over the past year, about 700,000 "eco-friendly" vehicles have been sold in China.

Electric car users don't want to buy them

At the beginning of 2018, electric cars account for only 1% of the global market, and in the United States this figure is even less. According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF), American drivers do not buy, but rent almost 80% of electric vehicles and 55% of plug-in hybrids.

The rental rate for the entire fleet in the United States fluctuates around 30%. However, there is a gap in the general data, since Tesla has not disclosed how many cars are leased, and since the manufacturer sells its cars directly, and not through dealers, it is not possible to find out the exact figure.

80% of electric car owners in the United States rent these cars, and do not buy them

The uneven preference for leasing is due in part to the meager demand for electric vehicles in the secondary market, as well as widespread speculation that future models of electric vehicles will significantly outperform the current ones in their benefits and capabilities. The problem is also that no one, including car engineers, really knows how well this first wave of electric vehicles will age.

When new technologies come in, come in so fast, and continuously improve, usually people only want to rent them, "said the vice president of American Honda Motor Co. Steve Center in an interview on the 2017 New York Auto Show.

Betting on rapid improvement makes sense: according to BNEF data, between 2013 and 2018. battery prices fell by an average of 20% per year, as factories expand and engineers improve fuel cell packaging. Compact electric vehicles, which were sold in 2014, cost only 23% of their original price tag at the start of 2018, while for internal combustion-powered vehicles the figure is 41%, according to automotive think tank Black Book^[18]

2017

Germany will not be able to switch to electric vehicles by 2030 due to lack of raw materials for batteries

On December 14, 2017, a representative in Germany of the BDI automobile association reported a shortage of the main raw materials for batteries. This, in turn, prevents the complete transition to electric vehicles by 2030, which the country announced earlier, writes Clean Technica^[19].

Germany has repeatedly indicated its readiness to fully switch to electric vehicles in the next 10 years, despite the fact that so far a number of obstacles remain in the way of this goal. Earlier, the country even sent To the European Union a resolution asking for a ban on the sale of new cars with gasoline and diesel engines from 2030. However, Germany's automotive industry has faced an unexpected difficulty: the world simply lacks the raw materials to produce batteries.

Batteries (2017)

Volkswagen aims to secure long-term contracts for the supply of rare raw materials. The concern intends to invest $41 billion in electric vehicles by 2022 to challenge Tesla. Other manufacturers also have big plans for the technology, with Mercedes Daimler planning to create electric conversions of each of the existing models and BMW Group promising to switch to mass production of the machines by 2025.

A wave of growing demand for raw materials will help to earn recycling companies.

According to Korean publication Etnews, quoted by Engadget, the launch of Elon Musk's Gigafactory has led to a lack of resources needed to produce conventional finger batteries. So, they have already become more difficult to purchase in Japan.

"Demand for raw materials is growing faster than production capacity. Without sufficient reserves of cobalt, graphite, lithium and manganese, Germany will have no new technologies. "

Matthias Wachter, BDI Head of Raw Materials

Taiwan plans to switch completely to electric vehicles

The Minister of Economy Taiwan said in the fall of 2017 that the region plans to completely switch to electric vehicles in the coming years. Motorcycles, which are very popular in the province, will be the first to switch to electric traction, followed by cars. Taiwanese startups have already begun to explore a new direction and develop electric motorcycles with the expectation of future market growth^[20] to^[21]

The provincial authorities decided to take an example from France and Great Britain, which in 2040 will introduce a ban on the sale of cars with ICE. But, as the minister explained, Taiwan is going to switch to electric transport not only for the sake of improving the environment, but also to stimulate the economy. "We are using this opportunity to develop the industry," the Nikkei Asian Review quoted the minister as saying.

Until 2030, Taiwanese motorcycles will switch to electric traction. They should be followed by cars, although the exact timing of the transition has not yet been set.

Taiwanese startups have already started producing electric bikes and electric scooters, and some have even managed to succeed. Thus, since 2011, the startup Gogoro has raised almost $500 million from investors, and also launched an electric rental service in several countries. In May, the company launched the Gogoro 2 electric scooter with a maximum speed of 90 km/h and a range of 110 km. In November, another Taiwanese startup, Otto, introduced a compact urban electric motorcycle with a large color display and a customizable frame.

Taiwan's population is only 23 million, with more than 13 million motor vehicles registered on its territory. In total, 21,000 electric bikes were registered in the province in 2016 - twice as many as a year earlier. In 2017, the number of motorcycles on electric traction is expected to be already 40,000, and in 2021 - 200,000. Taiwan authorities hope that the production of electric scooters and other small vehicles will turn into a profitable export industry.

The province is also betting on the development of electric vehicles. Recently, the Taiwanese company Xing Mobility introduced the Miss R supercar, which is a tenth of a second faster than the Tesla Roadster. The car will be released in a limited edition in 2019. It is expected to cost $1 million.

Electric cars are greener than diesel, even taking into account "dirty" electricity

Electric cars, even if they get power to recharge batteries from the most polluting coal-fired power plants, still harm the environment less than conventional diesel-powered cars. This conclusion was reached by the Belgian research organization Transport & Environment^[22]^[23].

Many developers of electric machines are confident that this type of transport will improve the environmental situation in the world due to the absence of emissions of harmful substances that are characteristic of cars with internal combustion engines.

At the same time, some experts believe that a massive transition to electric transport could potentially cause more environmental harm than cars with internal combustion engines. In particular, experts believe that an increase in the number of electric vehicles will lead to an increase in the load on power plants, most of which run on gas, coal and oil.

Increasing the load on power plants will lead to increased emissions of harmful substances, including carbon black, carbon dioxide gas and sulfur compounds. In addition, opponents of electric vehicles believe that lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles are not at all environmentally friendly in production, and after disposal they can poison the soil.

Researchers from Transport & Environment studied data on emissions of power plants in several EU countries, in the production of electric vehicles and their elements, as well as data on emissions of cars with diesel engines. It is diesel engines of all internal combustion engines on cars that are considered the least environmentally friendly due to the emissions of soot and sulfur and lead compounds.

Sulfur and lead in one form or another are always present in diesel fuel; their concentration may decrease depending on the cleaning technology used, but is not zero. Compounds of these substances in large quantities can cause poisoning. Soot emitted by diesel engines can provoke severe pulmonary diseases.

According to the results of the analysis, the researchers came to the conclusion that for the entire period of its existence, starting with production and ending with utilization, electric cars in Poland, the country with the largest share of thermal power plants in the European Union, will still produce almost 25 percent less harmful emissions.

Over its entire life cycle, the diesel car emits an average of 206.1 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer of track, according to the researchers' calculations. For comparison, emissions of an electric car in Poland over the same period will amount to 159.1 grams per kilometer, and in Sweden - only 30 grams per kilometer. On average, in the European Union, an electric car will emit 89.1 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer over its life cycle.

It should be noted that the research carried out by Transport & Environment concerns only carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, diesel cars and electric vehicles. Carbon dioxide is considered one of the main factors in global warming. The Belgian study does not take into account the ingress of other harmful substances into the atmosphere.

Honda electric cars will charge in 15 minutes

In early November 2017, the Japanese automaker Honda Motor announced its intention to solve one of the main problems hindering the mass introduction of electric vehicles. By 2022, the company plans to release electric cars, which will take only 15 minutes to charge batteries, Nikkei reports.^[24] Read more here.

China to ban cars with petrol and diesel engines

China plans to abandon the production and sale of cars equipped exclusively with gasoline or diesel engines in the country^[25].

The exact date of the ban is being discussed in the government, Deputy Minister of Industry information technology China and Xin Gobin said in September 2017.

According to the deputy minister, the ban on cars equipped only with gasoline and diesel engines will have a significant impact on the environment and the development of the Chinese auto industry. Xin Gobin did not name any approximate dates for the introduction of the ban.

In Germany, trucks will become trolleybuses

eHighway Site Tests

The German company Siemens received a contract from the authorities of the German state of Hesse to create an electric contact line for freight electric and hybrid cars. According to the company ^[26]], the agreement implies the creation of a contact chain on the federal autobahn A5 between Frankfurt^[27].

See more Siemens eHighway Electric Vehicles

Cars on gasoline and diesel will be banned in the UK

In the UK, sales of diesel and petrol vehicles will be banned from 2040. The Times and the BBC learned about this. Subsequently, British Environment Secretary Michael Gove made an official announcement, Reuters and RBC reported. Cars ^[28].

Deliveries of hybrid cars, which have both an electric motor and a diesel or gasoline engine, will also be discontinued. However, so far less than 1% of new cars sold in the UK are powered only by electricity.

"Diesel drivers are not to blame, and to

help them switch to cleaner vehicles, the government will consult on a targeted recycling scheme, which is one of a number of measures to support motorists," a spokesman for the environment ministry told The Times. Minister Gove, in turn, said that in some of the most polluted areas, the use of diesel cars could be banned even earlier than 2040.

2016: Prohibition of registration of vehicles with internal combustion engines in Germany from 2030

In October 2016, the authorities Germany decided to impose a ban on the registration of new cars with internal combustion engines used directly for traffic. transport The ban will take effect from 2030. Until then, the authorities intend to prepare the road infrastructure for the transition to electric transport.

2011

As of November 2011, about 40 models of electric buses are used on urban routes in the world; since 2012, more than twenty models of electric vehicles will be launched into mass production. The electric transport market is growing by more than 30% per year. It is predicted that in 2011 about 1.5 million electric vehicles will be sold, and by 2015 - about 5 million units.

2009: The Benefits of Electric Vehicles

Click on the image to enlarge^[29]

1919

Electric car recharging, Detroit, USA, 1919.

1832-1900

The first model of vehicles suitable for widespread use was the electric car of Robert Anderson, released in 1832, the first mass model with ICE in 1885 was assembled by Karl Benz^[30].

In 1900, electric cars accounted for 38% of the market in the United States, cars with steam engines - 40%, and gasoline transport - only 22%. Then came the Henry Ford conveyor, which very quickly produced a large number of cars with an internal combustion engine, which made them more affordable, and as a result, electric cars lost very quickly.

Electric motors

Modern cars are becoming more convenient: when you press only one button, windows, a sunroof or a trunk door open silently, wipers turn on, the position of the seats, steering wheel and rear-view mirrors is adjusted, and the optimal temperature in the cabin is created. All these functions are provided by small assistants - electric motors (electric drives) of different capacities, the existence of which the motorist sometimes does not think about. Meanwhile, each car has 10 to 115 electric drives. Light, compact, motors act quickly and silently. The company, Bosch as a developer and innovator in the field of electrics electronic engineers and for cars, has been producing electric drives for a wide range of vehicles for more than 100 years, from sports models to heavy special equipment. They are installed in cars, trucks, cars minibuses, luxury models. Bosch electric motors are also equipped with environmentally friendly vehicles such as eScooters and eBikes.

Due to its compact size and light weight, Bosch electric motors are effectively used to provide a high level of comfort in the car. Over the past five years, all innovations related to comfort electronics have gone in the direction of reducing weight, the size of electric drives and increasing the efficiency of their work. For example, the engine fan developed in 2013 is 70% more efficient than the previous model, and the trunk opening drive, launched in 2014, is 1 kg lighter than its predecessor.

Electric drives for comfort and climate comfort

Modern electric drives of comfort and climate control are compact in size, light weight, low noise and vibration. In addition, they are reliable and economical, so they are widely used for deliveries to the conveyors of automakers.

Cabin microclimate fan electric drives have high efficiency. They are environmentally resistant, have a compact design, enhanced diagnostic functions and improved power density. The climatic system module is equipped with a built-in control unit and meets the EU energy efficiency requirements.

Bosch windshield cleaning systems provide clear visibility in all weather conditions, which helps improve driving safety. Windshield wiper electric drives are designed for a variety of windshield sizes. Bosch is also one of the leading manufacturers of wiper brushes, which allows you to offer comprehensive solutions.

Reversible electric drive of brushes belongs to the last generation of motors. It has individual reverse settings and speed profiles, adjusts the frequency of the brushes depending on the speed of the car and weather conditions. Provides maximum cleaning area, noise reduction. The rear window wiper brush drive is compact in size, low noise level, ease of installation in a limited space.

Motor cooling system electric drives

Bosch electric motor fans are part of the engine cooling system, providing timely cooling of the engines of cars and sports cars. Light and compact, these electric motors are highly efficient and environmentally friendly, helping to save fuel and reduce exhaust emissions. Electric coolant pumps are widely used when installing additional interior heaters.

Cargo program

Freight transport has special requirements for the reliability of components. Bosch electric motors are commercially used for both ventilation and interior heating systems and for the engine cooling system. Most heavy equipment automakers, such as MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Scania, install Bosch products on their cars. When repairing and replacing components, it is very important to use genuine Bosch parts. They have a long life and avoid the cost of expensive re-disassembly of the cabin to replace components. At the same time, Bosch components differ from the original available prices, allowing you to choose a new part instead of installing a cheap used component.

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↑ All Shenzhen public transport has become electric
↑ China is extending benefits for electric vehicles
↑ Electric Car Drivers Are Too Smart to Own Electric Cars
↑ The German auto industry will not be able to switch to the production of only electric vehicles
↑ [https://www.ruscable.ru/news/2017/12/05/Tajvany_planiruet_polnostyu_perejti_na_elektromobi/ Taiwan plans
↑ completely switch to electric vehicles.]
↑ Electric vehicle life cycle analysis and raw material availability
↑ Electric cars turned out to be more environmentally friendly than diesel, even taking into account "dirty" electricity
↑ Honda to halve electric cars' charging time to 15 minutes
↑ China will ban cars with gasoline and diesel engines
↑ [= MO & content [] = Corp Siemens builds eHighway in Germany
↑ and Darmstadt. In Germany, trucks will become trolleybuses
↑ on gasoline and diesel will be banned in the UK
↑ the Nissan Leaf electric car presented in Russia
↑ Kirill Zhanaidarov, the Skolkovo Foundation When electric cars will conquer the market, and people will stop receiving a driver's license

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