How Long Until An Electric Car Is Sitting In Your Garage?

Electrified transport is key to a lower carbon future. According to the International Energy Agency, three-quarters of new cars need to be EVs by 2050, if we’re to stay within "safe" global warming limits (generally said to be 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels).

To give you an idea of how many sedans that is--it’s a lot. The IEA’s goal is 5.9 million new EVs a year by 2020. And, we’re a long, long way from that at the moment. Only 113,000 EVs hit the road last year across 15 countries signed up to the IEA’s Electric Vehicles Initiative. And those 15 account for 90% of EVs overall.

vdiv - 5/22/2013 3:41:25 PM

0 Boost

That far away future has been my present for 16 months now.

"...And then you will ask, how did we go so long without it?
The electric car. It isn't coming, it's here."
-- 1996 GM EV1 Commercial

monster - 5/22/2013 4:21:01 PM

+2 Boost

I mostly park on the streets so that may not happen anytime soon. A hybrid yes but not so much for EV.

vdiv - 5/24/2013 2:06:36 PM

+1 Boost

How about a plug-in hybrid? :) There are public charging stations, and many of them free sponsored by businesses that would like your patronage or the cost is included with other services that you pay for such as parking or commuting.

MorePower - 5/22/2013 7:02:13 PM

+1 Boost

It will happen when:

1. I can have enough range to drive to Las Vegas from Los Angeles on one charge or after a twenty minute top-off at In-N-Out in Barstow.

2. Electric Vehicles don't look like modern, more stylish versions of a Yugo.

3. An affordable, $35k, sports car that looks and handles great with performance but still has 150 - 225 mile range

4. There are enough charging stations so I can bypass range anxiety

5. Either I have solar panels or Honda's Natural Gas powered electric generator so I can recharge my car and house for pennies

PUGPROUD - 5/22/2013 8:31:58 PM

+1 Boost

Never...I don't have a garage where I live. My collector cars are stored ten miles away.

vdiv - 5/24/2013 2:03:21 PM

+1 Boost

You do not need a garage to have an EV, you just need a place to plug it in. I don't have a garage or even a dedicated parking spot and yet my Volt charges plugged in at night, rain or snow.

skytop - 5/23/2013 8:50:05 AM

+1 Boost

Sitting is probably the right word. Non charging and defective batteries will cause an electric car to sit in your garage.

stampfer - 5/23/2013 2:59:59 PM

+1 Boost

I could live with a Tesla Model S now, provided it wasn't my only car and I could afford the performance model. Currently, price with options is in the $115K range without taxes, so I guess it's not happening....

tesla311 - 5/23/2013 11:39:21 PM

+2 Boost

Tesla rules, either you get it now, or you'll get it eventually.