Wednesday
December 7
2022

Analysis: How Electric Vehicles Can Help the Developing World

By Nicolas Peltier-Thiberge

Electric cars are capturing headlines and wallets the world over. Over 6 million were sold in 2021, double the year prior. With some government policies shifting in their favour, these cars may become the new normal in major global markets. Can the same be said for developing countries?

To date, the high prices of electric vehicles (EVs) have constrained the bulk of sales to places like China, Europe and the United States. In these markets, EVs are becoming solidified as a tangible way forward-thinking consumers and governments can incorporate climate action into their everyday lives. This is important, because the transport sector is already responsible for 20% of GHG emissions globally. This percentage is rapidly increasing, especially because of developing countries.

As cities in developing countries grow, so does the demand for mobility. Without a clear strategy for sustainable transport that is accessible, safe and affordable, the world runs the risk of putting many more combustion engines on the road than the climate can handle. What can be done?

Photo courtesy of Marcus Frieze.

 

Source: World Economic Forum (link opens in a new window)

Categories
Energy, Technology, Transportation
Tags
climate change, electric vehicles, transportation