Some experts are predicting that in the next ten years, sales of electric cars will add up to a third of all new car sales. The good news to go with this happy prediction is that electric vehicles will also become more affordable making them accessible to many more of us.
Over 750,000 electric cars were sold in 2016 rising swiftly to more than 1.2 million in 2017 and this is only set to grow year on year. The International Energy Agency has said that our global stock of electric cars has also grown to more than 2 million ready for the surge in demand. Ahead of the curve, 27% of Norway’s car sales are already electric ones.
As all of us become increasingly aware of our contribution to the environment we will choose our cars differently. Some of the biggest car manufacturers are responding to this prediction with Volvo having said that from 2019, all their cars will have an electric motor. Another significant move has been made by Ford, which has pledged $11 billion to increase their planned investments into vehicle electrification by the year 2022.
Decisions like this show manufacturer commitment and confidence in market growth.
Commercial vehicle decisions will also change. Fleet managers will make electric vehicles part of their natural choice and along with autonomous vehicles, electric cars become part of everyday work life too. The fact that they will cost less than their traditional combustion engine counterparts makes the decision an added bonus for FDs worldwide.
In the meantime, one of the main hurdles to overcome is the availability of charging stations and therefore the driving range of the EV. At the moment we can travel further on a tank of fuel than we can a full charge but as more and more charging stations are built this balance will reverse and support the market demand.
Here at Avian we’ve just ordered our own new fleet of vans; with more charging points in place the next time around, we’re planning for the majority of our fleet vehicles to be electric.
The natural knock on effect of our choice of the new mode of transport will, of course, be to lower emissions & protect the environment. Practically it should also mean that by making these new selections, we also experience less traffic congestion and fewer accidents on our roads.
By 2050 another 2.5 billion people will be living in our cities as urbanisation increases and so do our populations. Two of the core demands on the city powers will be the delivery of both energy and mobility for its many inhabitants. City life needs to be sustainable in the long-term for everyone & congestion and pollution need to remain under firm control. One of the key ways to deliver on both targets will be via our transport choices and here lies the confidence in the very real future of the electric car.
With more than 30 years heritage in our industry, Avian Fleet are proud to be award-winning specialists in vehicle safety installations, telematics and connected technology. We work with our emergency services fleets, some of the biggest multi-national corporations, major equipment manufacturers and major network providers across the whole of the UK.
To find out more, call 0330 024 8830 or email: samantha.smith@avianmobile.co.uk
