The European Union is struggling to persuade consumers that switching to electric cars is a good idea, a struggle that echoes those in the United States as they both race to reach zero emissions.
European sales of electric vehicles have risen significantly in recent years, with European consumers selling ten times more electric cars than they did six years ago. The sale rate has not been sufficient for Europe to reach its goal of zero car emissions by 2035. This, mixed with significantly higher prices than the average combustion engine-powered vehicle, makes it difficult for the region to keep up with its energy goals.
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Electric cars only represent 9% of the market share in more than half of the EU member states, according to the European Automobile Manufacturer’s Association. The number is notably lower in the U.S., where they account for less than 1% of the 250 million vehicles sold.
The delayed adoption is partly due to the increased cost affiliated with most EVs. Most of the vehicles have a substantially higher initial cost upon purchase, making the investment harder at first glance. The overhead costs are reportedly lower in the longer term but may take time.
One of the greatest struggles that both the U.S. and Europe hold with electric adoption is the availability of power. There have to be enough power charging stations. Europe has installed nearly half a million charging stations as of April, although they are not evenly spread. The U.S. is still significantly behind in the number of charging stations. The country only had about 130,000 as of March 2023.
European countries and the U.S. are attempting to implement incentives to offer people reasons to buy the vehicles. The U.S. offers a $7,500 tax credit for EVs and makes them available as point-of-sale rebates. Twenty-one out of 27 European countries provided tax breaks, according to the EAMA, with savings ranging from 4,000 to 11,000 euros in compensation.
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The Department of Energy is teaming up with industry partners, including Amazon, to help expand the adoption of electric vehicles, aiming for the United States to reach its goal of completely electrifying the grid by 2030.
Biden has also begun to de-incentivize the use of fuel-economy vehicles through stricter rules. This includes requiring automakers to boost standards to a fleet-wide average of 58 miles per gallon for cars and light-duty trucks by 2032.
