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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: 3, Insightful) by Whoever on Saturday June 24 2017, @05:48PM (2 children)
What percentage of the UK population actually ever take their car across to continental Europe? I doubt that it is very high.
There are EVs that will do more than 200 miles already. So, as long as you don't stray too far from where the charging stations are located, the only inconvenience is stopping for 30 minutes instead of 10 minutes (although if you are stopping for only 10 minutes every 200 miles in a thousand mile journey, you are driving dangerously).
A current generation Nissan Leaf or Renault Zoe won't cut it, but a Tesla or a Bolt/Ampera-e will cut it for a lot of drivers.
(Score: 2) by Nuke on Saturday June 24 2017, @06:14PM
Ten minutes to refuel? WTF? Do your gas stations still use a hand pump from a barrel?
(Score: 2) by zocalo on Saturday June 24 2017, @07:14PM
Sure, there are longer range EVs out there which in many cases those might be sufficient right now if with a little pre-planning on recharging and actually taking appropriate length breaks to recharge yourself as well as the car, but those are also the more expensive EVs. As you say, a Leaf or Zoe's range isn't going to cut it for far more people than a Tesla's would, especially once the batteries have aged a bit, which is the main problem for mass adoption. If manufacturers can bring the Tesla's range (and ideally better) down to the budgets of EVs like the Leaf/Zoe and garages etc. can remove the re-charge anxiety, then I think you'll start to see a much wider rate of EV adoption. I can easily see that happening within the 10 years of the article for more typical drivers; it's only going to be those who do the really long trips that are going to need to stick with ICs until the situation improves - and if one of the many promising battery techs we keep hearing about actually delivers, maybe that won't be all that long either.
UNIX? They're not even circumcised! Savages!