By 2025, it is expected that 1 in 5 new cars sold worldwide will be electric, by 2030 2 in 5, and in 2035 and beyond in Europe, 100% of all new cars sold are expected to be electric (2040 in the rest of the world). Source: Virta.
Some of the world’s biggest car and vehicle manufacturers have their aims set. Jaguar aims to sell only electric vehicles by 2025, Volvo by 2030, and Lotus by 2028. General Motors say they will solely manufacture electric vehicles by 2035, whereas all of Ford’s sold vehicles in Europe will be electric by 2030, and Volkswagen aims for 70-30 sales in favour of electric vehicles. Source: BBC.
The future is electric, no question about it, and the EV vehicles sales numbers have never grown so fast globally. However, there remains one great challenge, the development and deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
The challenge of electric vehicle charging infrastructure
As the number of EV vehicles sold each year increases, the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure and deployment of EV charging stations need to follow suit. We need to prepare our cities and roads for all electric vehicles (cars, trucks, motorcycles, etc.) and ensure that our charging infrastructure meets a demand that’s growing exponentially.
One of the most common fears among EV sceptics is the limited range of EVs, or the impossibility to cover long distances without having to stop to charge, or worse, the battery running out of energy in the middle of nowhere.
However, crossing the EU in all electric vehicles is not a fable anymore. While some regions are better connected than others, the existing public network of fast electric charges makes it possible for owners of EV vehicles to travel far and fast. There are numerous EV charging service providers around Europe and the world continuously expanding their EV charging network. On average, according to 2021 numbers, the EU has around five fast public EV chargers for every 100km.
But are there really enough public chargers for everyone? As of now, yes. However, we’ll need many, many more in the future. This is a common argument against EV vehicles, the fear of having to queue for several hours to access a public charging station (PCP). In 2014, an EU-appointed commission dictated that we need to aim for a maximum of 10 EVs per public charging point across Europe to ensure enough room for everyone to charge all electric vehicles when needed.
In 2021, this ratio was around 7.5 EVs per PCP, and is continuously rising. Most countries actually already fall under the recommendations set by the EU in 2014.
The rise of electric vehicles
Electric cars will take over, probably sooner than you think. This isn’t a fad, it isn’t greenwashing. It’s plain and simple, the reality that’s standing at our doorstep whether you like it or not. The revolution will be electric.
The number of initiatives and companies supporting this revolution grow daily ranging from EV charging services providers and car manufacturers, to ice track makers for EV testing and EV car battery manufacturers.