On Electric Vehicle Charging, Royal Dutch Shell, BMW, Toyota & more
The following comments, from last week, address the changing vehicle landscape.
.From Royal Dutch Shell’s strategy day:
We plan to "accelerate our transformation into a provider of net-zero emissions energy products and services ...
and expand our "global electric vehicle (EV) network from more than 60,000 charge points today to around 500,000 by 2025 ...
and develop "integrated hydrogen hubs to serve industry and heavy-duty transport."
From the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (representing BMW, Daimler, Renault, Volkswagen, Volvo, and others) letter to the European Union:
“Electric car sales soared in 2020, reaching 10.5% of sales (battery electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid vehicles).
"We have a highly fragmented and insufficient European market for re-charging and hydrogen re-fuelling infrastructure
“We must rapidly develop re-charging and hydrogen re-fueling infrastructure [and deliver] one million charging points in 2024 and three million in 2029 for passenger cars and vans, as well as around 1,000 hydrogen stations by 2029 … such targets would send a strong signal to consumers that they can have confidence in these technologies.”
From BMW CEO Oliver Zipse:
“European automakers are ... literally outperforming each other in launching new electric vehicles ... this huge effort is seriously threatened by the delayed installation of charging infrastructure in the EU.
"The EU Commission quickly needs to take action … In addition to public charging infrastructure, we also need to put a stronger focus on workplace and home charging.”
From Toyota Research Institute CEO Gill Pratt, CEO, while announcing plans to bring two battery electric vehicles to the North America market this year:
"We believe the fastest way to lower greenhouse gases in the transportation sector is to offer drivers lower carbon choices that meet their needs ...
"We can put more people in cleaner automobiles across North America to have the greatest near-term impact on total carbon emissions.”
OUR TAKE
Demand for electric and hydrogen vehicles is attracting investor funding – and actions by governments can help increase the market's momentum.
Shell, and other large energy players, can leverage their resources in the transition to alternatives. Their pace of adaption will determine if they are leaders, fast followers or legacy players.
Regarding hydrogen fuel cells – Historically, this market has fallen short of expectations, but recent efforts to address industrial and military needs may change this trend.
Regarding Toyota - Their announcement is another indication of the changing nature of the vehicle market. Note: Their initial vehicle offerings will use lithium batteries - future offerings may use solid-state cells.