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A32 FEATURE
Thursday 7 March 2019

After years of promise, battery cars about to go mainstream

By DAVID McHUGH 2010, and closing in on the
Associated Press $120 per kwh level that the
GENEVA (AP) — For years, International Energy Agen-
there have been lots of cy estimates will make
electric cars proudly rolled a compact battery car
out at auto shows but few cheaper to own and oper-
on the streets or at deal- ate than its internal com-
ers. That could be about to bustion cousins at Europe’s
change. high gasoline prices.
The electric cars under the Bernstein foresees cost pari-
lights at the Geneva Inter- ty by 2022-23 and estimates
national Motor Show prom- that global market share of
ise to be the leading edge battery and hybrid cars will
of more affordable, longer- rise to between 9.6 percent
range vehicles that start to and 17.7 percent by 2025.
move battery cars out of Last year it was 2.1 percent.
their niche — as a product Regulation is playing a key
for environmentalists willing role.
to put up with limited range The new ‘Polestar 2’ is presented during the press day at the ‘89th Geneva International Motor European carmakers will
and wealthy enthusiasts of Show’ in Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, March 05, 2019. Associated Press need a growing share of
new technology willing to people. The Polestar 2 is getting broader, but be- chief operating officer, Ralf zero local emission vehicles
pay for buzz and the robust launch version, expected low, in the area between Brandstaetter, told The As- to meeting European Union
but silent acceleration the in 2020, starts at $55,500 40,000 and 60,000 euros, sociated Press. requirements for lower
cars offer. after the $7,500 U.S. tax in- it’s still relatively limited and He said the company can emissions of carbon dioxide
Several broad underlying centive; the Europe price I think Polestar coming in do that through efficient, by 2021, and even lower
trends are converging to starts at 59,000 euros. A less there will help accelerate large-scale production. The emissions thresholds in 2025
increase the likelihood that expensive model is envi- things.” ID compact heads into pro- and 2030. If they don’t,
larger numbers of battery sioned after the first year. And then there’s Volkswa- duction in November and they could pay thousands
cars will be on the roads in Polestar says the model is gen. The world’s largest car should go on sale in spring of euros in fines per vehicle.
the next several years. aimed at the same poten- maker, which sold 10.83 mil- 2020, with a base model China is requiring carmak-
Prices are falling for batter- tial customers as the Model lion cars last year across 12 available for under 30,000 ers to increase the share of
ies, consumers are turning 3 electric compact from brands including Audi and euros ($34,000). alternative energy vehicles
away from diesel engines California carmaker Tesla. Porsche, is refitting its plant The company is spend- through a points system
after Volkswagen’s emis- Tesla said last week it will in Zwickau, Germany, to ing 11 billion euros on new that gives more credit to
sions scandal, and govern- close many of its stores and produce electric vehicles, technology through 2023, low-emission, longer-range
ments in Europe and Chi- move to online sales only so the first of eight battery the bulk of that on devel- electric vehicles.
na are enforcing tougher it can cut costs and reach vehicle plants worldwide. oping electric cars. Things may change more
emissions rules. its goal of selling the Model Zwickau is to produce According to Mark C. New- slowly in the United States,
As more electric cars roll off 3 for $35,000. Before the 100,000 ID model vehicles man, managing director where the administration of
assembly lines, the trick will announcement the lowest next year on what the com- and senior analyst at re- U.S. President Donald Trump
be getting more people to price was $42,900. pany says will be a carbon- search firm Bernstein, falling is moving to ease higher
buy them. A key factor will Polestar CEO Thomas In- neutral basis, boosting Volk- battery prices are bringing mileage requirements from
be price — of the battery genlath says the takeoff for swagen’s output of electric the day closer when elec- the Obama administration.
to the manufacturer, and e-cars “is something that’s earlier models to 150,000. tric cars become as cheap Still, California is pushing for
consequently of the car to pretty close.” Overall, the division aims to as gasoline and diesel more battery-powered ve-
the customer. “You need a decent offer sell a million electric cars a models. hicles and hybrids, which
Volvo Car Group’s Pole- of a premium electric car year, or about a fifth of the The estimate for 2018 bat- use both batteries and in-
star 2 and Peugeot’s new that makes it accessible,” Volkswagen brand’s sales, tery pack prices is below ternal combustion engines.
electric 208 compact are he said. “There are a lot by 2025. $130 per kilowatt hour for It says 8 percent of new car
electric offerings aimed at of brands pitching into the “We want to bring electrifi- the most efficient manu- sales could be electrics, hy-
bringing battery-powered region above 80,000 euros cation to a breakthrough,” facturers. That is down from brids or other low emission
cars within reach of more vehicles by 2025.
($90,600), so the offer there the Volkswagen brand’s $1,000 per kilowatt hour in
An example of how regula-
tion can promote electrics
is Norway, where a raft of
incentives has pushed the
market share of plug-in
vehicles to 39 percent last
year. By contrast, China
was at 4 percent, Germany
at 1.8 percent and the U.S.
at 2.1 percent.
Gil Tal, director of the Plug-
in Hybrid & Electric
Vehicle Research Center
at the University of Califor-
nia-Davis, says “you will see
larger numbers three years
from now,” largely driven
The new e.GO ‘Lux’ is presented during the press day at the The new e.GO ‘Life Sport’ is presented during the press day at the
‘89th Geneva International Motor Show’ in Geneva, Switzerland, ‘89th Geneva International Motor Show’ in Geneva, Switzerland, by subsidies and incentives
Tuesday, March 05, 2019. Tuesday, March 05, 2019. at the outset.q
Associated Press Associated Press