America's concern: How should we control the price of electric vehicles?
Haebom
The electric vehicle industry is experiencing remarkable growth. In 2023, global electric vehicle sales increased by 35% compared to the previous year to reach 14 million units, accounting for an astonishing 18% of the entire automobile market. This growth trend is expected to continue thanks to technological advancements and changes in consumer perception.
Innovations in battery technology have dramatically improved the driving range and charging speed of electric vehicles. The latest electric vehicle models offer an average driving range of more than 300 miles (approximately 480 km), and with the advancement of fast charging technology, models that take only 18 minutes to charge 10-80% have emerged. This is becoming a factor in greatly relieving ‘driving range anxiety’.
From an environmental perspective, the benefits of electric vehicles are clear. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), electric vehicles emit more than 60% less greenhouse gases during their life cycle than internal combustion engine vehicles. This is equivalent to a reduction of approximately 4.6 tons of carbon dioxide per year.
Electric vehicle charging infrastructure is also rapidly expanding. As of 2023, the number of public chargers in the United States will be approximately 160,000, a 40% increase compared to 2021. However, it is still insufficient and continuous investment from the government and private sector is needed.
Considering the possibility of a change of administration, there may be changes in electric vehicle policy if the Trump administration returns to power. In the past, the Trump administration tended to support the fossil fuel industry, but considering the growth and job creation effects of the electric vehicle industry, it is expected that there will be an adjustment rather than a complete policy shift.
The initial purchase cost of electric vehicles is still high, but is gradually improving. As of 2023, the cheapest electric vehicle model in the U.S. will cost about $27,000, 15% lower than two years ago. Additionally, electric vehicles are already competitive in terms of total cost of ownership (TCO). When owned for five years, electric vehicles cost an average of 28% less than internal combustion engine vehicles, including fuel and maintenance costs.
The automobile industry's response is also quick. Major car manufacturers have announced plans to convert 40-50% of their entire lineup to electric vehicles by 2030. This suggests that more diverse and competitive electric vehicle models will come to the market.
In this respect, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, etc. are very suitable markets for disseminating electric vehicles. The stress on driving distance is not as severe as in the United States or China, and the infrastructure is better than expected. The problem is the price. In this situation where subsidies have been reduced, it will be rare for consumers to readily purchase this electric car that costs more than 60 million won.
It is a low-priced electric vehicle that continues to be talked about in the United States. Will Rivian, Tesla, etc. make low-cost electric cars? Or, the idea is to import low-cost electric vehicles produced in China. First of all, as of now, Elon Musk says that they have no intention of making low-priced electric cars, but rather seem to want to adopt a more high-end strategy.
If you buy an electric car, what is the appropriate price? Furthermore, would you be interested if a low-priced electric vehicle from a Chinese brand entered Korea?
1
1
S
Soohyun_Lee
중국 브랜드의 저가형 전기차가 한국에 진출한다면 가격적인 메리트와 그에 동반한 괜찮은 성능..(?) 이 수반되어야 관심을 갖게 될것 같습니다 (예를 들면 샤오미 같은 핸드폰 보조배터리...가 처음 들어왔을 때 처럼요!)
