The push for electric vehicles in the USA
Electric vehicles in the US: desirable but with a long way to go
Electric cars Sustainable mobility United States
Road transport is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases in the US. Electric vehicles are a sustainable alternative, but they represent only 1% of the 250 million cars and trucks on US roads. Will it be possible to convince drivers in the country to support a practical and environmentally friendly option such as electric cars?
Electric vehicle deployment in the US has seen significant momentum in recent years, but challenges remain.
The evolution of the electric vehicle in the USA
The goal is ambitious. The US government, led by President Joe Biden, aims for electric vehicles to account for half of all new car sales by 2030 and for only "zero-emission" models to be sold by 2035.
The deployment of electric cars in the country has evolved favourably in recent years, although there is still a long way to go. In the east, specifically in Maine, Connecticut and New York, Avangrid (Iberdrola's US subsidiary) is promoting new charging infrastructure through rebates to businesses and municipalities, while the west is home to the country's largest oil production.
Only 1 % of the 22 million vehicles registered in Texas are electric. But the number is growing and the public's conception is increasingly moving towards sustainable mobility. At the other end of the spectrum is California, which has the highest number of electric vehicles and charging stations in the country: 16 % of cars sold are electric.
The electrification of roads in the US faces a number of obstacles, from a finite supply of battery parts to the challenge of gaining public confidence and making people lose their fear of travelling long distances in electric vehicles.
Avangrid has joined a coalition of more than 60 electric utilities to develop a network of fast-charging stations along major highways in 48 states. The $3.7 billion investment will secure power for long-haul drivers and pave the way for the 22 million electric vehicles expected to hit US roads by the end of the decade.
Source: FT