Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Improving Air Quality
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are more than 100 million electric vehicles in use, as of 2018. Although the
most significant market overall is plug- in electric cars, there are also a large
number of electric bicycles, particularly in China. Electric buses and trucks
are also rapidly developing areas with great potential, but they are not as far
along in terms of implementation.
4.2 Plug- In Electric Cars
Within the last decade, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have gone from novel
curiosities to an increasingly normal option for all new car buyers to consider.
As car buyers consider BEVs, they are finding that they are on a par with
conventional vehicles (internal combustion engines, or ICEs) and are rapidly
becoming superior in many ways. At the time of this writing, in September
2018, reported US sales of electric vehicles (EVs) in August 2018 were up more
than 100% compared to August 2017 (Loveday, 2018). In Sweden, more than
9% of new car sales in August were plug- in EVs (Kane, 2018b). In the first half
of 2018, 6.2% of new car sales in California were plug- in EVs, with 3.3% being
all- electric and 2.9% being plug- in hybrid EVs (Pyper, 2018). Sales of hybrid
vehicles without plugs have been declining for several years in California.
In other words, cars such as the original Toyota Prius (which was groundbreaking in its time) are being replaced by plug- in vehicles. In August 2018,
monthly sales of EVs were more than 30,000 in the USA for the first time.
Global sales in June 2018 were more than 150,000, with more than one- third of
these taking place in China (Loveday, 2018). Globally, more than 1 million EVs
were sold in 2017 (IEA, 2018). Sales increased significantly in 2018, with about
2.1 million plug- in vehicles being delivered to customers (Irle, 2019); these
include BEVs and plug- in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) (cars and light
trucks in the USA and Canada, and light commercial vehicles in Europe and
Canada). The top five companies in terms of the number of light passenger
EVs delivered in 2018 were Tesla, BYD, BAIC, BMW, and Nissan. In 2018, 93%
of global EV sales were in China, Europe, and the USA (Irle, 2019).
Approximately 40 different models of EVs are available in the US market,
and in August 2018, sales for eight of these models were at more than 1000
vehicles. Looking forward, there are a large number of additional new models
of plug- in EVs planned across several different manufacturers. The strongest
selling EV at the moment is the Tesla Model 3, which reported sales of 17,800
units in August 2018; about half of the USA’s EV August sales (Loveday,
2018). Although many of the EVs are small cars, there are larger cars available and many larger models scheduled for release soon. Among the current
top eight market leaders, the Tesla Model 3, Tesla S, Tesla X, Chevrolet Bolt,
and Nissan Leaf are all- electric, whereas the Toyota Prius Prime and Honda
Clarity Plug- in EV are PHEVs. The Chevrolet Volt is powered by electricity,
but it has a gasoline motor that generates electricity to extend its range.
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40
are more than 100 million electric vehicles in use, as of 2018. Although the
most significant market overall is plug- in electric cars, there are also a large
number of electric bicycles, particularly in China. Electric buses and trucks
are also rapidly developing areas with great potential, but they are not as far
along in terms of implementation.
4.2 Plug- In Electric Cars
Within the last decade, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have gone from novel
curiosities to an increasingly normal option for all new car buyers to consider.
As car buyers consider BEVs, they are finding that they are on a par with
conventional vehicles (internal combustion engines, or ICEs) and are rapidly
becoming superior in many ways. At the time of this writing, in September
2018, reported US sales of electric vehicles (EVs) in August 2018 were up more
than 100% compared to August 2017 (Loveday, 2018). In Sweden, more than
9% of new car sales in August were plug- in EVs (Kane, 2018b). In the first half
of 2018, 6.2% of new car sales in California were plug- in EVs, with 3.3% being
all- electric and 2.9% being plug- in hybrid EVs (Pyper, 2018). Sales of hybrid
vehicles without plugs have been declining for several years in California.
In other words, cars such as the original Toyota Prius (which was groundbreaking in its time) are being replaced by plug- in vehicles. In August 2018,
monthly sales of EVs were more than 30,000 in the USA for the first time.
Global sales in June 2018 were more than 150,000, with more than one- third of
these taking place in China (Loveday, 2018). Globally, more than 1 million EVs
were sold in 2017 (IEA, 2018). Sales increased significantly in 2018, with about
2.1 million plug- in vehicles being delivered to customers (Irle, 2019); these
include BEVs and plug- in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) (cars and light
trucks in the USA and Canada, and light commercial vehicles in Europe and
Canada). The top five companies in terms of the number of light passenger
EVs delivered in 2018 were Tesla, BYD, BAIC, BMW, and Nissan. In 2018, 93%
of global EV sales were in China, Europe, and the USA (Irle, 2019).
Approximately 40 different models of EVs are available in the US market,
and in August 2018, sales for eight of these models were at more than 1000
vehicles. Looking forward, there are a large number of additional new models
of plug- in EVs planned across several different manufacturers. The strongest
selling EV at the moment is the Tesla Model 3, which reported sales of 17,800
units in August 2018; about half of the USA’s EV August sales (Loveday,
2018). Although many of the EVs are small cars, there are larger cars available and many larger models scheduled for release soon. Among the current
top eight market leaders, the Tesla Model 3, Tesla S, Tesla X, Chevrolet Bolt,
and Nissan Leaf are all- electric, whereas the Toyota Prius Prime and Honda
Clarity Plug- in EV are PHEVs. The Chevrolet Volt is powered by electricity,
but it has a gasoline motor that generates electricity to extend its range.