Here’s just a small selection of the news over recent weeks.
Oil groups ‘threatened’ by electric cars: International ratings agency Fitch says investors could sell out of energy companies.
Widespread adoption of battery-powered vehicles is a serious threat to the oil industry,” says a report from Fitch that urges energy companies to plan for “radical change” spurred by new technologies that could arrive faster than expected.
The oil sector would not be the only industry affected.
Big electricity utilities burning fossil fuels such as gas or coal face the risk of batteries solving the intermittency problem of wind or solar plants that cannot generate on windless days or at night.
Germany moves to ban internal combustion engine by 2030
One of Germany’s legislative bodies has moved to ban petrol-powered cars in favour of electric vehicles by 2030.
The country’s Bundesrat, or Federal Council, passed a resolution late last week to only approve emission-free cars for use on the roads by 2030.
This would effectively phase out vehicles with internal combustion engines – which generate power through the hot gases produced by the burning of fossil fuels – from sale in 14 years’ time.
Many German car brands, including BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen, are already rolling out battery-powered vehicles.
Netherlands on brink of banning sale of petrol-fuelled cars
Europe appears poised to continue its move towards cutting fossil fuel use as the Netherlands joins a host of nations looking to pass innovative green energy laws.
The Dutch government has set a date for parliament to host a roundtable discussion that could see the sale of petrol- and diesel-fuelled cars banned by 2025.
If the measures proposed by the Labour Party in March are finally passed, it would join Norway and Denmark in making a concerted move to develop its electric car industry.
Sweden wants EU to switch to emission-free cars by 2030
Isabella Lovin of the Green Party hailed a non-binding resolution adopted by Germany’s upper house of parliament to switch to emission-free cars by 2030.
“It’s a really interesting proposition … In order to achieve it, we will need to implement an EU-wide ban along the same lines,” she said.
“As the environment minister, I do not see any other way than to relegate vehicles powered by fossil fuels to the dustbin of history.”
BMW Plans EV Offensive With Four New Zero-Emission Vehicles
BMW is the latest in a long string of automakers to target Tesla Motors and their successful electric vehicles with the introduction of several new zero-emissions cars over the next few years.
Set to sit between the Model 3 and Model S is poised to hit the market between 2019 and 2021. BMW’s “i” range is bound to be updated too, with a facelifted version of the i3 expected next year and joined eventually by a more potent iPerformance variant.
As for the i8, this is expected to gain a new generation in 2022, when it will allegedly drop its internal combustion engine in favour of three electric motors that are expected to produce more than 670 HP.
Norway hits target selling 50,000 electric cars
Elsewhere in Europe, Norway has hit its target of selling 50,000 electric cars three years ahead of its own target, in part owing to strong financial incentives to purchase the more environmentally friendly model.
Electric vehicles have been exempted from VAT and purchase tax, which would otherwise add 50 per cent to the cost of the vehicle, under new Norwegian laws.
Ultra fast 350kW chargers set for Europe
A network of ultra-fast charging stations will be rolled out across Europe, capable of charging electric vehicles with a power output of up to 350kW.
Called Ultra E, the project is the result of a collaboration between a number of the continent’s major car manufacturers and charging infrastructure firms.
The points will run along routes connecting the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Austria.
There are no vehicles on sale at the moment that can charge at 350kW – Tesla’s models have the highest charging capacity at more than 100kW.
However, the next generation of planned long range EVs from the likes of Porsche and Audi would require an ultra fast charging network to allow for similar or shorter charging times than today’s capabilities. The current expectation is that a 20 minute 350kW charge would return about 190 miles of range.
China Electric Car Sales Up 188%
The Chinese market had some 34,000 new EVs zooming the streets last month, a 188% increase over the same month last year, in-line with the annual growth rate.
British entrepreneur Branson has been involved in the motorsport series from an early stage, with his DS Virgin Racing team competing in its first two seasons.
Formula E was introduced in 2014 to help attract a new audience to motorsport and to also help develop electric vehicle technology going forward — an area in which Branson feels clear progress is being made.”Formula E is pushing the boundaries forward into what will be the future,” Branson told CNN’s Supercharged show at the recent London ePrix in Battersea Park. “Fifteen years from now, I suspect every car on the road will be electric.
The overriding theme of the Paris Motor Show is electrification.
Both Volkswagen and Mercedes have laid out their commitments to an EV future in the shape of the I.D. Concept and Generation EQ.
Renault’s new Zoe 40 could be argued to be a more significant announcement though, since the French EV is not available in a few years down the line, but within a few months.
Add to that Smart’s entirely electrified model line-up, and some concepts that give us ideas of where electrified powertrains and models are heading, and the Paris Motor Show is truly electric. Lots more here.