The world is not yet ready for electric vehicles
Please don't get me wrong. I would love everyone to drive an electric vehicle, as I believe gas stations are killing the economy by making rich a bunch of people that control the world's petrol, which is causing a significant impact on the planet.
Still, I must say that less than a year ago, Toyota delivered my (not so long a "new" car) Yaris Hybrid Electric (6 months after placing my order, being the 6th a month delay, as it was supposed to be delivered in 5 months). Since then, I have enjoyed every minute I drive this car.
And the reason for choosing a Hybrid car over an electric vehicle is that the world is still being prepared to adopt electric cars everywhere fully. Here's why:
Why isn't the world ready for the EV?
The world is still being prepared for the widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) for various reasons.
One significant barrier is the limited availability of charging infrastructure, especially in rural areas and developing countries.
According to the International Energy Agency, there were only about 18,000 public EV charging stations worldwide in 2015, with the majority concentrated in a few countries, such as the United States, Japan, and a few European countries (IEA, 2015).
This limited infrastructure makes it difficult for EV owners to travel long distances or rely on their vehicles as their primary mode of transportation.
Another reason the world is not yet ready for EVs is the high cost of the vehicles themselves.
EVs are generally more expensive to purchase than gasoline-powered vehicles due in part to the cost of the batteries. This price differential can significantly deter consumers, especially in countries where gasoline is relatively cheap.
As an example of this case, my Yaris Hybrid cost was less than 50% of the cheapest Tesla at the time I bought it. And the Yaris I purchased was not a cheap car.
A third reason is the limited range of many EVs.
While some newer models have a range of over 300 miles (482 km) on a single charge, many older models have a range of fewer than 100 miles (160 km). This limited range can make it difficult for EV owners to use their vehicles for long-distance trips or to drive in areas where charging stations are scarce.
Yes, more recent EVs indeed have a longer-distance range. Still, the one allowing you to drive long distances is Tesla, which costs much more than any of its competitors.
Finally, there are still concerns about the environmental impact of EVs.
While EVs do not produce tailpipe emissions, the electricity that charges their batteries often comes from fossil fuel sources. In countries with a high reliance on coal-fired power plants, the carbon emissions from charging an EV may be higher than those of a gasoline-powered vehicle.
Conclusion
Overall, while EVs have the potential to be a clean and efficient form of transportation, there are still several barriers to widespread adoption.
For EVs to become more viable, there will need to be significant investments in charging infrastructure, improvements in battery technology to increase range and reduce costs, and a shift towards cleaner forms of electricity generation.
References
Sources:
- International Energy Agency (IEA). (2015). Global EV Outlook: Understanding the Electric Vehicle Landscape to 2020.
- Personal experience after a few months of investigation.
Additional reading:
- https://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/GlobalEVOutlook2015.pdf
- https://www.iea.org/reports/world-energy-outlook-2015
- https://www.scribd.com/document/330913285/Global-EV-Outlook-2015-Update-1page-pdf
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