Electric Vehicles: The New Norm
- The Biden Administration recently announced a commitment to transitioning all government vehicles to electric
- General Motors made public their plans to produce exclusively zero-emission vehicles by 2035
- Many other countries are leading in the race towards electric vehicles, two examples being China and Norway
New Government Interest in EVs
In just two months, 2021 has already become an unprecedented year for electric vehicles. With electric car companies such as Tesla rising in popularity each year, the recent consumer shift towards electric vehicles is clear. Changes are also coming from other ends however, including the US government. Most recently, the Biden Administration announced an expansion of the “Buy American” act in a press conference, during which Biden stated that all government vehicles be replaced with electric vehicles. Additionally, the new government owned electric cars will be exclusively made in America and by American workers. Although the specific timing and details behind these changes has not yet been disclosed, it marks a powerful commitment of the Biden Administration on climate change, a notable shift from the prior administration.
Corporate Stakes
Outside of the government, corporate players — predominantly vehicle manufacturers — have also played a role in the recent uptick in interest in electric vehicles. General Motors (GM) made a particularly notable decision this year in committing to transition their entire fleet of gas powered vehicles to zero emission cars and trucks. They are aiming to complete this shift by 2035. In the years prior to 2035, GM has already made commitments to unveil 30 new electric vehicles by 2025 and construct a manufacturing plant in Ohio for the creation of the batteries required. Although many other leading car manufacturers have yet to make a complete shift to electric vehicles, given the recent government, consumer, and corporate interest, some expect electric vehicles to become a requirement in the next 2 decades.
Global Perspectives
It is also important to highlight that the United State’s is not alone in their recent interest in electric vehicles. In fact, many countries are greatly outpacing the US in both electric vehicle production and legislation. One example is China, who recently announced that the majority of cars in their country will be electric within the next 15 years. Given that China is also the country with the highest number of electric cars, they are well positioned to lead in the electric car race. Another notable example is Norway. In 2020, electric cars rose to control 54% market share of all vehicle sales in the country. Norway has had a long commitment to electric vehicles, and also aims to remove all petrol and diesel cars by 2025. Overall, it is clear that electric cars are rising in importance, and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Governments, consumers, and corporations will all have to embrace such changes, or risk being left behind.
Sources:
Biden Wants to Replace U.S. Fleet Vehicles with American-Made EVs
G.M. Announcement Shakes Up U.S. Automakers’ Transition to Electric Cars
Electric cars rise to record 54% market share in Norway in 2020