Electric Vehicles: Back to the Future
They say, “history repeats.” In recent years, electric and hybrid vehicles (EV/HEV) have received an increasing amount of attention. Whereas less than 5 percent of vehicles sold in 2016 were equipped with electrified-vehicle (xEV) powertrains, the industry aspires to have over 50 percent of all new models in 2021 equipped with xEV drivetrains.[1]
While this growth is not necessarily surprising, what many may not realize is that the first electric vehicle was produced nearly 120 years ago. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 28 percent of all cars sold in 1900 in the United States were electric, outselling gasoline and steam-powered vehicles.[2]
So what changed? Like many trends that come and go, price played a significant role in the decline of electric vehicles toward the second quarter of the 20th century. Henry Ford’s Model T, powered by a gas—or internal combustion—engine cost about one-third the price of an electric vehicle.2 Combined with decreasing gasoline prices and better road systems, electric cars gradually took a back seat.
What’s Old is New Again
The automotive industry is constantly evolving to adapt to current consumer and industry needs, while anticipating future challenges. In my 24 years working in this fascinating industry, I have witnessed many adaptations, from vehicle design and assembly, to a focus on global platforms, to today’s broader look at mobility—requiring technology partnerships and aimed at sustainable solutions across the globe. Within DuPont’s Transportation & Advanced Polymers (T&AP) business, we are not only exploring innovations in material science, but also industry collaborations to advance the emerging electric and hybrid vehicle market. I have seen a shift in recent years of the industry going “back to the future” where we once started more than a century ago. Several factors are driving the growth of this market, specifically:
- Stricter government regulations have pushed OEMs to advance the electrification of their fleet.
- At the same time, government incentives to buy electric vehicles have convinced a wider range of consumers to try a hybrid or electric car.
- Together with the technical improvements aimed to increase the autonomy of electric vehicles, while reducing the charging time, a favorable ecosystem is being installed around the EV/HEV today and increasing interest from OEMs in electro-mobility.
Future Mobility
While on the topic of electric and hybrid vehicles, we cannot overlook the other fast-growing, complementary advancements in the automotive landscape, including autonomous driving, ride sharing, and connectivity. In future posts, I will explore the evolution and revolution of future mobility, including the upcoming launch of DuPont’s Silicon Valley innovation center, as well as a new global initiative aimed at addressing the electric and autonomous mobility challenges with DuPont’s technology and expertise in material science.
Today, I’ll leave you with the note that this is an interesting time of change, yet mobility remains an essential human need, now available to a broader customer demographic. As demographics shift and disposable income increases, the car remains central to mobility and the technologies we are developing today will make the output of EVs, HEVs and autonomous cars more sustainable in the next decade and beyond.
[1]McKinsey Center for Future Mobility: The Automotive Revolution is Speeding Up
[2] https://www.businessinsider.com/electric-car-history-2017-2#the-electric-car-burst-onto-the-scene-in-the-late-1800s-and-early-1900s-1