The Growing Power of the Electric Car

The automotive industry has a key interest in the change of climate. Today, global interest in climate change is at an all-time high as countries around the world unite with the goal of decreasing our dependence on fossil fuels. While there are many industries with the ability to affect climate change, the automotive industry has been a key point of interest. This is due to the fact that while air pollution as a whole has improved, levels of nitrogen oxides present in car exhaust, remain at unsafe levels. This type of air pollution causes harm to the environment and humans alike which is why decreasing the automotive industry’s reliance on fossil fuels has become a top priority. UK Policies & Electric Vehicle Progress The UK has gone to great lengths to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and has successfully cut emissions faster than any other G7 Nation. This success is due in large part to government regulations and financial commitments aimed at improving sustainability and mitigating climate change as well as the automotive industry’s investment in clean technologies. As demonstrated by the recently published Clean Growth Strategy, the UK will continue to be a world leader in cutting carbon emissions. While a number of initiatives are underway, a few noteworthy aims within the automotive industry include: 2030: Three-fifths of cars must be electric 2032: New sales of petrol and diesel cars will be banned, with the exception of hybrid vehicles 2040: All new cars sold in the UK must be “effectively zero-emission” While the aforementioned goals are undeniably positive, significant changes must take place behind the scenes in order to make these goals viable. Electric vehicles only account for 1% of new vehicles sales in the UK today. Subsequently, as the mass markets shift towards electric vehicles, a significant investment and overhaul of existing infrastructure will be required. As such, the UK government has offered a number of financial commitments including £200M to invest in the development of charging station infrastructure. This will include subsidies for employers who install power points at their workplaces. Additionally, the government is also prepared to provide £100M in car buying subsidies for individuals who purchase electric vehicles. This subsidy currently equates to £4500 per purchase, which is slightly lower than the $6500 rebate offered in the United States for every electric vehicle purchase. The shift away from fossil fuels also requires further investment into clean energy itself, which is why industry leaders are investing more heavily than ever before in research and development. There are a number of key areas that must be improved prior to the mass implementation of electric vehicles, many of which center around the longevity, efficiency, and affordability of the electrically-powered battery. Fortunately, progress is already underway as the cost per KW-hour for a battery has decreased from $1000USD (2010) to between $130-$150USD (2018). The distance travelled has also improved, with some vehicles subsisting for over 1000km per charge. However, with more electric vehicles on the road, development will need to continue, which is why the UK has earmarked an additional £40M for the research and development of electric batteries. Although the UK has a long road to travel prior to achieving government-imposed regulations, the automotive industry is poised to take on the challenge. Significant investment and a willingness to lead the way, has been and will continue to be, a driving force behind the UK’s push to become a cleaner, greener, healthier nation.

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