Electric cars are new and interesting with technology that has never been seen before. In our lifetimes, we have seen the rise of electric cars as well as the adoption of many motor companies producing hybrid cars. Even our college has electric car charging stations. The use of electric cars has been gradual and patient over time. With the current price of gasoline, many individuals are considering alternate modes of transportation that are more eco-friendly than traditional gas cars. In 2012 there were only 130,000 electric cars sold worldwide. While this is a number larger than I expected for that year, this number is nowhere near what it is modern-day. In 2019, comparatively, 2.2 million electric cars were sold. This represented 2.5% of global car sales. In 2020, the number of electric car rose to three million and represented 4.1% of total car sales. This trend continues with 6.6 million electric cars being sold in 2021 accounting for 9% of the global car market. The change from 2012 to 2021 is a staggering 4976% change. The global adoption of alternative fuel sources is leading to new technologies for human transportation. Those numbers alone from 2012 to 2021 show how popular and promising electric vehicles can continue to be moving into the future. Some food fo thought is although we are moving in a cleaner car direction… if 6.6 million electric cars were sold last year, how much carbon emissions were emitted in the production of so many cars? (Although these cars are better for the environment and reduce an individual’s carbon footprint, it is inevitable for carbon emissions to be attached to the production and transportation of electric vehicles before they are purchased and driven off the lot). It has been estimated that there are now around 16,000,000 electric cars on the road worldwide, but while electric car’s are being consumed at a higher rate, this is being offset by a parallel increase in the sale of SUV’s. It will be interesting to see what the automotive industries do in the coming years and how the auto-market will react and balance. Stay tuned.
Sources:
https://www.iea.org/commentaries/electric-cars-fend-off-supply-challenges-to-more-than-double-global-sales
I agree, I think electric cars are a promising innovation, however, I also think that for a car to be completely green and electric the source of energy for those cars also has to be green. I read an article from the NYTimes last year about how most of the energy to charge cars comes from coal-based energy plants. It’ll be interesting to watch how the development of energy will play out politically in the future.
I think that was a really interesting and timely topic to research. I was surprised to find out how many electric cars were sold in 2012 and even more surprised about the steady increase in electric car purchases over time.
I agree with what Justin said–those were my exact thoughts I was going to comment! Electric cars are a new and interesting and a potential to move away from diminishing fossil fuel reserves like gasoline. However, just like Justin said, the sources of electricity used to power and create the cars needs to be green, too, or else the problem isn’t solved at all.
This is really interesting to think of, since at least in New York you still see many more gas stations than charging stations for electric cars. I wonder how this change will come into play when it comes to when with the Global Energy Crisis within the next few years.