Tesla, EVs, and the auto industry's response

[mspohr]

Advances mean all new US vehicles can be electric by 2035, study finds
Rapid advances in the technology and cost of batteries should allow all new cars and trucks sold in the US to be powered by electricity by 2035, saving drivers trillions of dollars and delivering a major boost to the effort to slow the climate crisis, new research has found.
This situation is likely to drastically change this decade, according to the new University of California, Berkeley study, with the upfront cost of electric cars set to reach parity with gasoline vehicles in around five years’ time. As electric cars are more efficient and require less costly maintenance, the rapid electrification of transport would save about $2.7tn in driver costs by 2050.
“The role of government policy is crucial, firstly with incentives to buy electric vehicles until there is price parity and then to rapidly ramp up fast-charging infrastructure,” said Phadke. “If the US government set a date for the end of gasoline cars, it would give a very clear signal to the market. If it does nothing, the transition will still take place but not quick enough to deal with climate change. It’s not going to be easy, but it’s achievable.”

 

[Brando]

Advances mean all new US vehicles can be electric by 2035, study finds
Rapid advances in the technology and cost of batteries should allow all new cars and trucks sold in the US to be powered by electricity by 2035, saving drivers trillions of dollars and delivering a major boost to the effort to slow the climate crisis, new research has found.
This situation is likely to drastically change this decade, according to the new University of California, Berkeley study, with the upfront cost of electric cars set to reach parity with gasoline vehicles in around five years’ time. As electric cars are more efficient and require less costly maintenance, the rapid electrification of transport would save about $2.7tn in driver costs by 2050.
“The role of government policy is crucial, firstly with incentives to buy electric vehicles until there is price parity and then to rapidly ramp up fast-charging infrastructure,” said Phadke. “If the US government set a date for the end of gasoline cars, it would give a very clear signal to the market. If it does nothing, the transition will still take place but not quick enough to deal with climate change. It’s not going to be easy, but it’s achievable.”

The whole world is moving because of lower cost of ownership - AND lowest cost electricity creation is wind/solar.

Main barriers? legacy corporations & government policies/regulations.

FUD/extra taxes/subsidies (Oil still gets massive amounts of taxpayer money corn ethanol (just one example: $.50/gallon paid to Oil companies for each gallon added - we do get slightly cleaner air.) you can explore oil subsidies with google search.

I worry US will not be a leader in this new landscape of Energy production/consumption. trade tariffs to protect US corations w (donor class) will only slow down US innovations. China electrics will build factories just as the Asians have done with Honda/Toyota/Kia.