Penetration of Electric Vehicle in Automobile Market
Submitted to: Ma’am Sana Ilyas
Submitted by: Muhammad Zeeshan Zahid
Roll No. 16-1521
Section: A
Electric cars popularity began to rise in the late 19th century and particularly in start of the 20th century because
at that time, electricity was considered preferable method for propulsion or forward motion, I would like to
update the knowledge of my audience about the penetration of electric vehicles in automobile market, as
gasoline vehicles are environmentally destructive. Basically the rise and impact of electric vehicles in
automobile market is growing and their market in automobile/mechanical industry is because they produce less
pollution than gasoline vehicles and are more reliable and economical.
An electric car is an automobile that is propelled by one or more electric motors. Electric vehicles (EVs) use
electrical energy which is stored in rechargeable batteries. First electric vehicle was produced in 1884. By
Thomas Parker, using his own high capacity rechargeable batteries. The initial electric cars did not gain much
popularity, due to the limitations of storage batteries at that time, electric cars however electric trains gained
immense popularity due to their economies and fast speeds achievable. By the 20th century, electric rail
transport became commonplace. Over time their general-purpose commercial use reduced to specialist roles, as
platform trucks, forklift trucks, ambulances, tow tractors and urban delivery vehicles, such as the iconic British
milk float; for most of the 20th century, the UK was the world's largest user of electric road vehicles.
During the last few decades, environmental impact of the petroleum-based transportation infrastructure, along
with the fear of increasing oil prices, has led to renewed interest in an electric transportation infrastructure. EVs
differ from fossil fuel-powered vehicles in that the electricity they consume can be generated from a wide range
of sources, including fossil fuels, nuclear power, and renewable sources such as tidal power, solar power, and
wind power or any combination of those. The carbon footprint and other emissions of electric vehicles varies
depending on the fuel and technology used for electricity generation. The electricity may then be stored on
board the vehicle using a battery, flywheel, or super capacitors. Vehicles making use of engines working on the
principle of combustion can usually only derive their energy from a single or a few sources, usually nonrenewable fossil fuels. A key advantage of hybrid or plug-in electric vehicles is regenerative braking, which
recovers kinetic energy, typically lost during friction braking as heat, as electricity restored to the on-board
battery.
Currently battery electric vehicles (BEVs) make up only a small portion of total vehicle sales, and critics say
there are a number of limitations, such as limited charging infrastructure, and the relatively long time needed
to charge a vehicle. For a long time, automakers seemed reluctant to invest in EVs, and customers did not seem
terribly interested in buying them. But now this is proving to be wrong due to following factors because now
the technology has made electric vehicles more economical; average running cost per mile of an electric
car is 3.3 cents while for gasoline it is 15.9 cents per mile. More reliable; it is easy to maintain, less
prone to break down because of less mechanical parts. High Performance; previously, electric cars
were considered to be slow and sluggish. Now, they can outperform a comparable petrol vehicle. More
Affordable; their initial and was very expensive when they were new in the market, with the passage
of time their cost has dropped significantly. Tesla and other (E.V) companies improved range/mileage;
According to 2012 census report an average electric car’s range was about 90-120 miles, but now it
has improved to 150-200 miles and top-tier car models offer up to 300 miles of range. Improved
infrastructure; big companies like Tesla has invested heavily in setting up charging points, making
long trips possible.
Upcoming electric cars will continue to increase, gaining more interest from the general public. This
trend will shed a brighter light on the necessity to improve electric car marketing and communication
strategy in order to compete more effectively with gas-powered vehicles. Many new companies have
sprung up in the past few years. Existing companies like Audi and Chevrolet are developing electric
vehicles and will be targeting mass market. Developed countries are promoting electric vehicles by
providing exemption from taxes, making them even more affordable.
Electric cars have come a long way; from being criticized for being under-powered to being praised
for providing superb performance. The charging infrastructure has improved drastically in the past
years. Companies have plans to further expand their charging network, reducing range anxiety. With
advancement in technology, affordability and practicality of electric cars will continue to improve.
Adoption of electric cars has gained momentum and the trend is likely to continue in the future.
(Irle)
(Avt)
(Neslen, 2016)
(Wikipedia)
(Tesla)
References
Avt. (-, - -). Comparing Energy Costs per Mile for Electric and Gasoline-Fueled Vehicles. Retrieved 12 14, 2018,
from Advance Vehicle Testing Activity: https://avt.inl.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/fsev/costs.pdf
Irle, R. (-, - -). Global Plug-in Sales for the 1st Half of 2018. Retrieved 12 14, 2018, from EV-volumes.com:
http://www.ev-volumes.com/country/total-world-plug-in-vehicle-volumes/
Neslen, A. (2016, october 11). Plans for an electric car charging point in every new home in Europe. Retrieved
12
14,
2018,
from
the
guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/sustainablebusiness/2016/oct/11/electric-car-charging-point-new-home-europe-renault
Tesla. (-, - -). On the Road. Retrieved december 14, 2018, from Tesla: https://www.tesla.com/supercharger
Wikipedia. (-, - -). Electric vehicle. Retrieved
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_vehicle
december
14,
2018,
from
wikipedia: