Op-Ed: Britain’s two thousand forty gas ban means EVs are in our future, with or without the Paris Climate Accord
Almost two months ago, President Trump announced the U.S.’s withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord, the international agreement in which almost every country that isn’t being sanctioned into oblivion or ripped apart by civil war agreed to curb their use of greenhouse gas to counter global heating.
The backlash was swift and visceral, as American citizens and the international community decried the stir as shortsighted and apocalyptic. However, there was no jubilation from the auto industry, no visible knuckle bumping from one of the sectors threatened most by these fresh regulations.
That’s because, for them, virtually nothing has switched. Electrification is still the way of the future, whether our politicians believe that or not.
Private companies are setting up electrified vehicle chargers via the U.S. to support the growing number of battery-powered cars.
Just today, the United Kingdom announced a ban on all gas- and diesel-powered cars embarking in 2040. This matches a decree transferred down in France earlier this year as well as similar mandates being considered in Germany and India as well as the establishment of emission-free zones in some of the world’s largest and most influential capitals, including Paris, Madrid, Mexico City and Athens.
Furthermore, China, home to 1.379 billion people and the world’s fastest growing economy, is also pushing for electrification as a solution to its debilitating smog crisis.
China and India alone account for Two.7 billion people, toughly a third of the global population. Throw in Europe’s big three—France, Germany and the U.K.—for another two hundred million-plus and, with the previously mentioned cities, we’re well on our way to three billion potential drivers who won’t have access to combustion engines.
Almost one-third of deaths in China are related to the country’s smog issue.
Aside from the sheer number of people, those five countries alone control 33.58 percent of the world’s purchasing power, according to the International Monetary Fund. The U.S, on the other forearm, controls just 15.Three percent of the global GDP and at least fourteen percent of that comes from EV-hungry California, according to a report from the U.S. Commerce Department.
With the chips stacked as they are, American automakers have no choice but to dive head very first into electrification and other emission-free technology.
Take Buick, for example. Thanks to its close ties with GM’s former European brand’s Opel and Vauxhall, many of its best fresh vehicles, including the Encore, Envision, Cascada and, soon, the all-new Regal, are made in overseas factories. China also happens to be the brand’s fattest growth market. Unless it wants to sacrifice the gains it’s made in latest years, it’s choices might be electrify or die.
Volvo wants to electrify its entire lineup by 2025.
Other automakers have taken notice of this trend, including Volkswagen, which intends to roll out thirty battery-powered vehicles by 2030, and Volvo, which plans to put an electrified motor in every one of its vehicles by 2025.
As much as we Americans love our gas-guzzling pickups and mammoth SUVs, those alone won’t be enough to stem the global tide of electrification. As global vehicle platforms evolve they will do so with lithium ion battery packs in mind, not engine blocks or radiators.
Those who aren’t thrilled about this can blame the U.K., at least for today. Odds are the next country is ready to sign onto the combustion engine’s death notice soon enough.
Did you find this article helpful? If so, please share it using the “Join the Conversation” buttons below, and thank you for visiting Daily News Autos.
Op-Ed: UK s two thousand forty gas ban means electrical cars are unpreventable in US – NY Daily News
Op-Ed: Britain’s two thousand forty gas ban means EVs are in our future, with or without the Paris Climate Accord
Almost two months ago, President Trump announced the U.S.’s withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord, the international agreement in which almost every country that isn’t being sanctioned into oblivion or ripped apart by civil war agreed to curb their use of greenhouse gas to counter global heating.
The backlash was swift and visceral, as American citizens and the international community decried the budge as shortsighted and apocalyptic. However, there was no jubilation from the auto industry, no visible knuckle bumping from one of the sectors threatened most by these fresh regulations.
That’s because, for them, virtually nothing has switched. Electrification is still the way of the future, whether our politicians believe that or not.
Private companies are setting up electrified vehicle chargers via the U.S. to support the growing number of battery-powered cars.
Just today, the United Kingdom announced a ban on all gas- and diesel-powered cars beginning in 2040. This matches a decree passed down in France earlier this year as well as similar mandates being considered in Germany and India as well as the establishment of emission-free zones in some of the world’s thickest and most influential capitals, including Paris, Madrid, Mexico City and Athens.
Furthermore, China, home to 1.379 billion people and the world’s fastest growing economy, is also pushing for electrification as a solution to its debilitating smog crisis.
China and India alone account for Two.7 billion people, toughly a third of the global population. Throw in Europe’s big three—France, Germany and the U.K.—for another two hundred million-plus and, with the previously mentioned cities, we’re well on our way to three billion potential drivers who won’t have access to combustion engines.
Almost one-third of deaths in China are related to the country’s smog issue.
Aside from the sheer number of people, those five countries alone control 33.58 percent of the world’s purchasing power, according to the International Monetary Fund. The U.S, on the other arm, controls just 15.Three percent of the global GDP and at least fourteen percent of that comes from EV-hungry California, according to a report from the U.S. Commerce Department.
With the chips stacked as they are, American automakers have no choice but to dive head very first into electrification and other emission-free technology.
Take Buick, for example. Thanks to its close ties with GM’s former European brand’s Opel and Vauxhall, many of its best fresh vehicles, including the Encore, Envision, Cascada and, soon, the all-new Regal, are made in overseas factories. China also happens to be the brand’s fattest growth market. Unless it wants to sacrifice the gains it’s made in latest years, it’s choices might be electrify or die.
Volvo wants to electrify its entire lineup by 2025.
Other automakers have taken notice of this trend, including Volkswagen, which intends to roll out thirty battery-powered vehicles by 2030, and Volvo, which plans to put an electrified motor in every one of its vehicles by 2025.
As much as we Americans love our gas-guzzling pickups and mammoth SUVs, those alone won’t be enough to stem the global tide of electrification. As global vehicle platforms evolve they will do so with lithium ion battery packs in mind, not engine blocks or radiators.
Those who aren’t thrilled about this can blame the U.K., at least for today. Odds are the next country is ready to sign onto the combustion engine’s death notice soon enough.
Did you find this article helpful? If so, please share it using the “Join the Conversation” buttons below, and thank you for visiting Daily News Autos.