U.S. Likely to Lead Emergence of EVs as Means of Mass Transportation - McKinsey
By Scott Doggett August 9, 2010
The United States is the country most likely to lead the emergence of electric cars as a means of mass transportation, according to an article in today's Financial Times, citing research by McKinsey, the global consultancy.
A new electric-vehicle index compiled by McKinsey puts the U.S. ahead of France, Germany and other western European countries that have up to now been in the vanguard of clean-vehicle technology. China is tied with Germany in third place.
The index is based on nine variables that are likely to influence investment in electric-vehicle production and consumer acceptance of the new technology. It will be updated quarterly.
Only a few thousand electric cars are presently on the roads. They are either expensive niche models, such as the Tesla Roadster, or prototypes designed to test consumer reaction, notably BMW's Mini-E.
But the numbers are likely to rise markedly after the end of this year with the launch of Nissan's all-electric Leaf and General Motors' Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in hybrid.
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McKinsey are talking drivel.
Taking into account the size of the countries, France is spending many times more than the US.
A partnership of Government and utilities led by La Poste is ordering 50,000 electric vehicles, whilst Renault's production is scheduled to be as great as that for the whole of the US.
The cost of petrol in Europe is much higher than in the US, making an electric car much easier to justify, whilst most countries in Europe give cheaper rates for off-peak electricity, not always available in the US.
In China two pieces of legislation are under consideration, one to make all cars micro-hybrids by 2012, the other to make 10% of production electric by 2015.
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