The electric car future is finally taking off | 电动汽车的未来终于腾飞 - FT中文网
登录×
电子邮件/用户名
密码
记住我
请输入邮箱和密码进行绑定操作:
请输入手机号码,通过短信验证(目前仅支持中国大陆地区的手机号):
请您阅读我们的用户注册协议隐私权保护政策,点击下方按钮即视为您接受。
FT英语电台

The electric car future is finally taking off
电动汽车的未来终于腾飞

Norway’s EV success offers policy lessons for other nations
挪威电动车的成功为其他国家提供了经验。
00:00

There have been many false dawns for the electric car. France and the UK were among the pioneers of electric vehicles in the late 19th century, with well-heeled customers using them for short trips around cities. By the early 1900s, however, the discovery of abundant oil reserves and larger road networks had helped to undermine the case for electric in favour of petrol.

Today, more than a century later, polluting diesel and petrol cars still dominate sales globally but there are encouraging signs that 2021 could prove the start of a lasting electric future. Norway, a nation whose wealth is based on fossil fuels, last year became the first country in the world where the sale of electric cars overtook those powered by petrol, diesel and hybrid engines. Electric vehicles made up just over 54 per cent of all new cars sold in the country in 2020, a global record, and up from a mere 1 per cent of the overall market a decade ago. It still has some way to go but Norway looks on course to meet a government target, set in 2016, of banning sales of all internal combustion engine vehicles by 2025. 

As policymakers look to rebuild their economies after the coronavirus pandemic, Norway’s success in promoting the uptake of EVs provides an important lesson in how targeted policies can help to change consumer behaviour and spur private-sector investment. Early and generous government support as far back as 1990 in the form of a temporary exemption from the country’s vehicle purchase tax proved an important first step.

Since then other initiatives, including lower road taxes and the removal of charges for toll roads and public ferries, have helped to spur the uptake of EVs. Crucially, while an extensive charging infrastructure was begun with government money, it kickstarted subsequent private sector investment. 

Norway’s fossil fuel heritage may have helped to cushion the loss of tax revenues but the country’s success offers a road map for others in how to promote a green industrial revolution. Britain’s Boris Johnson last year vowed to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030 as part of a 10-point green plan. The target is laudable but only achievable if accompanied by an improvement of the existing charging infrastructure for EVs. Britain’s motor industry body last September pointed out that for customer demand to keep pace with the growth in the number of zero emission capable car models available, at least 2.8m new public charging points would need to be built by 2035 — an investment worth £16.7bn.

Ultimately, the goal must be for EVs to become commercial in their own right. A key tipping point will come when they cost as much to produce as conventional vehicles. Mass production and competition will help, and the interest of Apple, the maker of the iPhone, in entering the industry possibly through a tie-up with Hyundai, is an indication that both are on their way. Norway has begun to eliminate some of the previous fringe benefits of owning an electric car such as free parking, charging and no tolls. The next critical question will be when to phase back in taxes for EVs. A key challenge for the industry will be how to produce cheaper and more efficient batteries. 

For now, the optimism contained in forecasts that global EV sales will grow 50 per cent or more this year appears well-founded. At the same time, the remarkable stock market run of Tesla, which has made Elon Musk the world’s richest man, shows that investors are betting electric cars are here to stay, irrespective of which company ultimately inherits the electric future. 

版权声明:本文版权归FT中文网所有,未经允许任何单位或个人不得转载,复制或以任何其他方式使用本文全部或部分,侵权必究。

华尔街对大型科技公司2000亿美元的人工智能支出感到担忧

本周,美国四大互联网集团的AI效益初现端倪,但也警告说将增加支出。

地中海已经变成危险的“汽油桶”了吗?

暴雨的部分原因是海水温度的危险上升。

从错失的投资机会中得到的教训

我是如何错过OpenAI、BrewDog和英国电信的?

决定特朗普贸易政策的内部竞争

在这位共和党候选人的第一个总统任期,其政府内部内斗不断。

政府顾问表示,英国应简化人工智能专家的签证程序

马特•克利福德关于促进科技产业发展的建议还包括设立数据中心特区。

为什么卡玛拉•哈里斯会赢

因为这仍然是经济问题,傻瓜。
设置字号×
最小
较小
默认
较大
最大
分享×