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Electric and hybrid electric vehicles are in the fast lane to wider adoption, according to a new study by University of Michigan researchers.
The researchers analyzed the present status of electric vehicles in the U.S., their life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions, and progress toward lifting barriers to broader acceptance. The study is a literature and technical review that synthesizes and analyzes recent findings from many sources.
"We feel that within the next decade, electric vehicles are positioned to be more suitable for most drivers to use on a daily basis," said Brandon Schoettle, project manager at the U-M Transportation Research Institute. "That's due to recent improvements such as longer driving ranges, faster recharging times and lower vehicle prices."
[...] Schoettle and colleague Michael Sivak, a research professor at UMTRI, found that sales of plug-in electric vehicles in the U.S. have increased by more than 700 percent since 2011.
[...] Other key findings include:
- Availability: The number of individual electric vehicle models that consumers can choose from has increased rapidly, nearly doubling from 13 in model year 2016 to 23 in 2017. Recent price trends make plug-in hybrid vehicles more affordable and more similar in price to the average internal combustion engine vehicle.
- Charging infrastructure: The number of public charging stations has grown rapidly since 2010, with approximately 16,000 now available across the U.S., supplying approximately 35,000 individual connections (for comparison, there are roughly 112,000 gas stations).
- Driving range: The driving distance between charges of battery electric vehicles continues to improve. The range of all electric vehicles has increased to an average of 110 miles. Several studies the researchers cite estimate that a range of 120 miles can cover 99 percent of household vehicle trips.
- Fuel prices Compared to gasoline, electricity prices have been low and stable over the past decade or more, and they're projected to remain that way over the next several decades.
Getting Americans to give up their cars for public transportation may be a tough sell, but if the study is right getting them to switch to electric cars won't be.
(Score: 2) by hemocyanin on Saturday June 24 2017, @04:45PM (4 children)
"Juice & Go"
Somebody soon will couple several fast charger spots with coffee shops (if they haven't already). Pull up, grab some caffeine and a cookie, check your email/texts/whatever while sitting inside, then head out. $10 for a latte and a charge.
(Score: 2) by zocalo on Saturday June 24 2017, @04:53PM
UNIX? They're not even circumcised! Savages!
(Score: 3, Informative) by Nuke on Saturday June 24 2017, @06:27PM (2 children)
Right. We see at last the lifestyle that you EV fans assume that everyone else shares with you. Latte? WTF is that? I don't do coffee shops. When I stop for a journey break it is away from other people and with my sandwiches and a thermos. One of my regular stopping places is in a hollow 400 yards off the main road on a military firing range (when the red flag is not flying).
An EV will be fine for my wife as she only does shopping trips. But stop trying to ram EVs down the throats of those of us who do longer distances and have different lifestyles from you; there are plenty of us.
(Score: 2) by hemocyanin on Sunday June 25 2017, @05:52AM (1 child)
I love driving my leaf out to the gravel pit target range about 10 miles down logging roads. That low center of gravity makes it a ton of fun to drive on dirt roads. And, since I save $5 in fuel costs for every 50 miles I drive, I get a free latte every day. Milk is good for you and hot milk is ambrosia.
(Score: 2) by hemocyanin on Sunday June 25 2017, @05:55AM
Well, not every day -- every OTHER day. My regular commute is only 25 miles.