Electric car sales in the US continue to grow, but at a slower pace than before. One problem is the high price of the cars. But a lack of production capacity and a holey infrastructure are also a hindrance.
A muggy Saturday morning in Woodbridge, not far from Washington. At a small car show, car freaks show off their souped-up sweethearts. Among them: a 1949 Ford F 1 pickup.
Bill, a friendly elderly gentleman, has poured thousands of dollars and man-hours into the knobby, metallic-green truck with its rounded cab and short bed. And he pimped it with a racing engine of 550 hp.
On a daily basis, he drives a modern version of this pickup, a Ford F 150. This is the best-selling car in the USA that is now also available as an electric vehicle. Nothing for Bill: Such a car has its place, he says, “but you can’t force it on people.” Forcing everyone to switch to electricity – that will probably not happen.
Goal by 2030: Half of all new cars will be emission-free
You can’t get American consumers to do something they don’t want to do. This is exactly what car dealers are experiencing. US President Joe Biden has stated that the future of the automotive industry is electric. By 2030, half of all new cars should be emission-free. The environmental protection agency EPA puts manufacturers under pressure with ambitious emissions standards. But buyers hesitate. The sales figures for e-cars are increasing, but more slowly than before. And the dealers are left with their stocks.
“We know from surveys that price is the biggest barrier to buying an electric car,” said Michelle Krebs, chief analyst at Cox Automotive, a service provider to the auto industry. Current figures show that prices are falling significantly. Down 20 percent compared to the previous year, reports Cox Automotive. An electric car now averages $53,000, but a regular new car is still less than that, averaging $45,000.
grants possible application procedure complicated
While many buyers could qualify for government grants, the application process is confusing and complicated. There are also very practical problems: too few charging stations, many of them broken, and the range of the batteries is too short. And then the technology itself, says expert Krebs. You believe that Americans are interested in electric cars. But there is a gap in knowledge and a lack of understanding.
That doesn’t apply to the President. Two years ago, Joe Biden test drove a Ford F 150 Lightning. This is the E version of the popular pickup. “Drives fast,” he said happily and pressed the accelerator firmly. But Ford cannot meet the demand because the production capacities are not sufficient. In the second quarter just 4500 Lightnings were sold.
Tesla ahead, but still with worries
Even BMW, VW and Mercedes are selling significantly more electric cars in the USA. But nobody even comes close to Tesla. The pioneer put 175,000 vehicles on the road in the second quarter alone.
But Tesla is also worrying investors. The market share is constantly falling and is now less than 60 percent. And in the luxury segment, Elon Musk’s company has had to give up the crown: the best-selling e-coupé in the USA is the BMW i4. Tough demand and production problems – that doesn’t look good for Biden’s electric future.