Volkswagen triples electric car sales ahead of climate rules

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By DAVID McHUGH

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Europe’s push into electric cars is gathering speed — despite the pandemic.

Automaker Volkswagen tripled sales of battery-only cars in 2020 as its new electric compact ID.3 came on the market ahead of tough new European Union limits on auto emissions. And Germany, long a laggard in adopting electric vehicles, saw more people buy electrics in December than opted for previously dominant diesel vehicles.

Those are early signs of what will likely be an upcoming year of increasing market share for electric cars as EU regulations drive their adoption, despite the recession caused by the coronavirus pandemic that has caused the overall car market to shrink.

Volkswagen said Tuesday its namesake brand sold 134,000 battery-powered cars last year, up from 45,000 in 2019.



FILE - In this Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020 file photo, Electric car ID.3 cars stand at the factory area during a press tour at the plant of the German manufacturer Volkswagen AG ,VW, in Zwickau, Germany. Automaker Volkswagen tripled sales of battery-only cars last year as its new electric compact ID.3 came on the market ahead of tough new limits on auto emissions. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer, file)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/business-europe-climate-coronavirus-pandemic-germany-b73f88fce015cb740410791458184c73

[kirkuchiyo]

1. To bad we can't get the ID.3 here in the US. nt

[Miguelito Loveless]

2. Given the hostility to EVs

they don't see it as economical.

[kirkuchiyo]

3. It's not just EV's, no one here wants cars

Everyone in the US wants an SUV. We'll probably end up with an ID.4 when the AWD version is available though.

[Miguelito Loveless]

4. More EV CUV/SUVs are coming

Just not to the US in numbers (other than Tesla). That said, most folk who get to drive an EV for even a day become true believers.

[haele]

5. Waiting on the ID Buzz, supposedly 2022.

The VW microbus as an all electric vehicle. Supposedly around the $40 to $50K range.

I've also seen where GM is working with a couple major charger companies to try and get a good network of generic mass compatible quick charging stations across the nation through 2021 and 22, which will help push other EV manufacturers to go all electric.

Give Tesla a run for its money.

Haele

[kirkuchiyo]

6. I'm actually partial to the Space Vizzion

Even though it s STUPID name.

[marble falls]

8. I want one.

[modrepub]

7. The Conversion to Electric Could Be Fast

At some point in the US, electric cars are going to reach a synergy and overtake ICE cars. Most of the US electric grids are already making plans to accommodate them. The good news is many in the US see this switch happening much sooner than anticipated.

Now the electric grid supplying these cars is still dominated by fossil fuels at the moment. But coal and oil fired power plants are yielding to more efficient combined cycle natural gas powered power plant that will produce less CO2 and large renewable wind-farm projects are slated off the NE US coast.

Integrating all this together will be a challenge. But it will also provide job opportunities for the innovators and help replace those lost in the soon to be shrinking coal and oil industries. Some good news here.