Skip to main content

Over 35 million electric vehicles on world’s roads by 2022, claims new report

More than 35 million electric vehicles (EV) will be on the world’s roads by 2022, according to a new report from Navigant Research. “With gasoline prices remaining high, acquiring an EV is becoming an economic decision for many consumers,” says Scott Shepard, research analyst with Navigant Research. “The initial purchase price premiums for EVs, compared to conventional gasoline and diesel-powered internal combustion engines, are substantial. Yet, operational cost savings due to reduced refuelling and maint
January 8, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
More than 35 million electric vehicles (EV) will be on the world’s roads by 2022, according to a new report from Navigant Research.

“With gasoline prices remaining high, acquiring an EV is becoming an economic decision for many consumers,” says Scott Shepard, research analyst with Navigant Research. “The initial purchase price premiums for EVs, compared to conventional gasoline and diesel-powered internal combustion engines, are substantial. Yet, operational cost savings due to reduced refuelling and maintenance costs are proving that, when considered over the life of the vehicle, EVs are cost-competitive with internal combustion engine vehicles.”

Navigant Research estimates in 2013 there were over 7.3 million EVs on roads – the vast majority being hybrids.

The research firm says that innovations in EV technologies are reducing the cost of EV ownership. These include vehicle-to-grid (V2G) systems that allow plug-in EV (PEV) owners to utilise battery power not only for driving, but also for emergency backup power and grid balancing. Test fleets are being used to examine the revenue potential of V2G services, and electricity providers are looking into ways to shift PEV charging to off-peak hours through demand response programmes. Developments in both areas promise to strengthen the business case of PEV technologies for fleet and individual owners, the Navigant Research report concludes.

The report, Electric Vehicle Market Forecasts, provides forecasts, market sizing, and market share analysis for the overall light-duty (LD) vehicle market and LD hybrid EVs, plug-in hybrid EVs, and battery EVs. It includes comprehensive data for vehicle sales and vehicles in use (parc) for the global LD vehicle market, as well as the three EV segments. Also provided are the underlying forecast assumptions for the consumer and fleet markets.

Leading EV manufacturers including Volkswagen and General Motors are strong in the Chinese market – which, given its size and Government subsidies to local firms to develop EV’s, and its further subsidies to customers to buy them, is predicted by many sector analysts to become the world’s leading EV market. A basic, all-electric version of, for instance, the hybrid Chevy Volt/Vauxhall Ampere could be reasonably cheap for many EV manufacturers to develop.

Related Content

  • Electric compaction from Hamm on test
    January 16, 2024
    The latest, zero-emission battery-powered electric tandem rollers from Hamm have proven their worth in a series of working applications.
  • Efficient aggregate production with new technology
    December 9, 2022
    New equipment is providing major benefits for aggregate production, offering superior product quality as well as increased throughput, while also being able to better meet sustainability targets for customers
  • Geosynthetics revolutionise ground stabilisation
    March 13, 2012
    As powerful fabrics, geosynthetics and geotextiles have a wide range of applications in many civil engineering applications including roads and airfields. Geosynthetics specialist Tensar is introducing a radical new product that it thinks will revolutionise the construction industry. According to the company, its new product represents the "biggest advance in ground stabilisation technology for 25 years. Six years in development, it is said to offer major improvements in aggregate confinement and soil stabi
  • Don't buy, subscribe instead... and stay ahead of the pack
    September 19, 2024
    The traditional way of doing things is to own the construction equipment you need on site. You can buy, or you can rent. You mix and match your technology needs with what is happening on site and your costs go up and down accordingly. However, a new model is emerging: Subscriptions. Take out a flat-fee plan and let someone else make sure you can get access to the latest thinking and the cleverest technology. Pete Kennedy reports.