What’s The Future Of Electric Cars?

In 2015, more electric cars were sold than in any previous year, as more people are starting to realize the benefits of driving an electric vehicle. As batteries become more powerful and affordable, companies are also coming up with innovative new ways to charge electric vehicles while they’re not in use, such as solar-powered chargers that can juice up your car when it’s parked outside or even automatic charging stations at parking lots that will recharge your vehicle while you shop. These technological developments are paving the way for the future of electric vehicles, but what exactly will they look like? Read on to find out.

Will We See A Time When Electric Cars Outnumber Petrol/Diesel Cars?

While Elon Musk is busy getting us excited about a future where we live on Mars, he also has his eyes firmly fixed on making electric vehicles more accessible than ever before. In late October, Tesla Motors announced plans to launch its Model 3 by 2017. This will be Tesla’s first mid-range car (priced around $35,000) and its second mass-market vehicle after its Model S sedan launched in 2012 ($70,000). Other major automobile manufacturers are also investing heavily in EVs. Chevrolet recently unveiled its Bolt battery car which is expected to cost $30,000 and can travel 200 miles on a single charge. Plus Nissan and Honda have both said they plan to introduce new fully electric vehicles by 2018.  With all of these advances being made in EV technology, it seems inevitable that we will see a time when battery cars outnumber petrol/diesel cars. But what does that mean for our planet? How much of an impact could these changes make? And how soon do we expect to see these changes take place? Let’s look at some facts: According to a report published by Bloomberg New Energy Finance last year, there were 1 million electric vehicles on the road worldwide in 2015 – up from 500,000 in 2014. Analysts predict that number will grow rapidly over coming years – reaching 11 million by 2020 and almost 300 million by 2040. By 2050, analysts say there could be as many as 600 million EVs worldwide.

How Can We Encourage Manufacturers To Make Better, Cheaper Electric Cars?

One of the big factors holding back mass adoption of electric vehicles is that they still need to be plugged in, which limits their range. Now, a team of scientists at Stanford University have developed a new breed of charger bike that can wirelessly transmit electricity from one EV to another. It’s not just a plug-in charging station but something even more exciting: A full on energy transfer system. Imagine your cell phone being able to recharge itself without ever being plugged in! Though it sounds like science fiction, several startups are working on similar technology for electric cars. (Forbes)

In addition to wireless electricity, here are three other ways we can encourage manufacturers to build better, cheaper electric cars:

The cost of renewable energy continues to fall rapidly and costs will only continue to drop as manufacturing improves and scale increases. We should focus our investments on making sure we’re getting maximum efficiency out of our current battery designs instead of pouring money into unproven concepts that won’t be ready for years, if ever. As more manufacturers produce electric cars, economies of scale can help drive down prices. And let’s not forget about fuel cells: They may not get much attention these days but they are still a viable option for some vehicles, especially heavy-duty trucks.

Should Drivers Be Allowed To Use Their Electric Cars For Free (At Charging Stations)?

At gas stations, drivers don’t have to pay to fuel up. And many see charging stations as no different—after all, how does a charger station make money if EVs owners are given free electricity for fueling up their vehicles? That’s where charger bikes come in. When someone parks at a charge station and plugs in their car, they can still park it but go into a store or restaurant nearby. If they return within two hours, they can get two hours of charging for just paying for parking normally. This helps business owners who are on board because of driver foot traffic and revenue from retail sales that would otherwise be lost from unused parking spaces when drivers leave their cars unplugged.

Will Governments Put Pressure On Automakers To Introduce More Electric Cars Models?

Currently, only a handful of automakers offer electric vehicles in their lineup. However, as governments put pressure on these companies to improve air quality in cities and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it is likely that they will begin to introduce more models. With an increase in options available, people who are interested in reducing their environmental impact might be more inclined to purchase an electric vehicle instead of a hybrid or diesel car. If current trends continue, it’s likely that by 2040, most vehicles will be electric. This would mean a major shift for manufacturers and governments around the world. But how will we get there? And what does it mean for you? We take a look at what’s ahead for electric cars.

Governments play a key role in deciding whether electric vehicles will really become mainstream over time. For example, Norway has introduced regulations that mandate car manufacturers sell some form of zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) as soon as possible. While other countries haven’t gone down this route yet, many have set rules about emissions levels and tax incentives for electric vehicles. These factors could encourage consumers to switch from fossil fuels engines to renewable energy sources sooner than expected – and help the environment too!

Is There Anything We Can Do To Help Accelerate Electric Cars Process Faster?

One way is to start talking about it more. Tell your friends and family. Educate them on why you bought an electric vehicle and what their options are if they want to buy one too. If we keep our voices loud, politicians will hear us, car companies will listen and demand for electric vehicles will increase. No one buys a Tesla Model S because it’s cheaper to run than a gas car – they buy it because of environmental responsibility, prestige or safety features that have nothing to do with emissions. We need to make sure everyone knows how great EVs are in all aspects – not just environmentally but also financially.