Thats what China hopes , but it's not looking great .
But experts warn it is important to be aware of other hidden costs - including higher insurance premiums - before plumping for an EV.
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I think that any EV owner that you'll ask will tell you that the running costs are lower than comparable ICE cars , but the car itself is more expensive to buy and depreciation is higher as well.
EVs became commonplace mainly due to tax breaks. We have several EVs at work on a business lease, all given to employees under a salary sacrifice scheme, and they still can't believe how cheap it is for them (especially for those in the higher tax bracket).
My EV is one of those cars, and I have to admit that initially I wasn't particularly attracted to EVs (I test drive a Model X and remained unimpressed), but I did the math and under a salary sacrifice scheme it would have been bonkers not to get one.
In fact, my much loved W204 which I was originally going to keep for a very l-o-n-g time (I had the W203 before that for 9 years), got sold to a fellow forum member last simply because it was not getting much use (and, I am happy to report that it's new owner is keeping up the tradition of looking after it well!).
I have to say that in spite of all the bells and whistles in my EV, the W204 was much more enjoyable to drive - it was by far one of the best motorway cruisers I have ever driven (beaten only just by an S350 I drove in Germany - really, it's that good).
That been said... having tasted the forbidden fruit... there's no way back fit me. I have been tinkering with engines since I was 15, and with cars since I was 17 (back in the day....), and I LOVE it... I felt robbed when fuel injection replaced carburettors and electronic ignition replacement the good old dizzy and points.
I spent many many hours maintaining and repairing my cars, and it was always part of a very satisfying ownership experience.
But having had the EV for nearly two years now... I and starting to regard ICE cars like a seventies Rolex that isn't very accurate and needs lots of expensive servicing but has sentimental value.
The EV is so much more simple and more reliable than ICE. And that's after 150 years of development and evolution of the ICE car, compared with 15 years for the EV.
Of course, there's not much you can do DIY on an EV, other than perhaps software updates, because there's very little that needs doing in terms of maintenance. Not even the discs and brakes need changing....
In terms of initial buying price for those who can't get one via a salary sacrifice scheme, I can see two opposing trends.
On one side, cars have gradually become more expensive over the past 30 years, mainly due to increase in both emissions and safety regulations, but also because of the increase in customers' demand more refined cars with more features as standard.
On the other hand, technically almost always becomes cheaper (in real terms) over time. From central locking through LCD displays in cars and up to radar sensors, these were all very expensive initially and then came down in price.
The bottom line? My next ICE purchase will be the equivalent of the old Rolex, i.e. a classy car I'd cherish and definitely one with a carburettor (or two), a dizzy, and points. Perhaps of the MG or Triumph variety. But only once I fully retire.
) yet our nearest bus stop is 6 miles away, nearest rail station 14 miles. Public transport over large areas that aren't densely populated isn't going to become more economically viable than it is now. EVs will never be cheap to manufacture, and the limited lifespan/low residuals will make leasing a much more expensive option than owning an older ICE vehicle is currently.
