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Since 2011 through projected model upgrades for 2019, automakers will have increased the battery range of their BEV models an average of 38 miles each upgrade – a cumulative 15% increase on average per year. These are two key findings from new EVAdoption analysis.
With battery prices continuing to decline at a steady rate I wanted to understand how auto manufacturers are translating these battery advancements into their upgrade frequency and mile range increases in their BEV models.
US BEV Battery Range Increases an of Average 15% Per Year
and 38 Miles Each Model Update
While range increases will vary by OEM, model, price point and the level of existing battery range, we will likely see average range increases of 25 to 40 miles every two to three years for the next several years.
The increase in range every few years could also drive 3 trends:
- Lower residual value of used EVs (as compared to similar ICE vehicles – until ICE vehicles lose their value because the market has shifted to EVs)
- A broader shift to leasing or subscription models
- A significant increase in consumer preference to buy used cars versus new.
US BEV Battery Range Increases an of Average 15% Per Year
and 38 Miles Each Model Update
My Road Trip Series on CleanTechnica
As promised in my previous email, I’m delighted to share my 3-part article series that ran over the last week on CleanTechnica. The series was based on our recent 900 mile+ round-trip road trip in California in our Tesla model S 60.
My intent in sharing the blow-by-blow details of our trip was twofold: 1) To humanize what it’s like to actually take a road trip for the first time in an EV; and 2) To use the real-world learning to inform what I believe are the keys to convincing mass consumers that driving an EV on a road trip does not require a huge change in behavior or significant inconveniences.
Diary of an EV Road Trip: 900+ Round-Trip Miles in Our Tesla Model S 60 (Part 1)
Diary of an EV Road Trip: 900 Round-Trip Miles in Our Tesla Model S 60 (Part 2)
8 Keys To Eliminating EV Range Anxiety On Long Road Trips (Part 3)
I hope you enjoy the series and I definitely would love to hear your feedback - especially on my recommendations in part 3.
EV Charging News
While Elon Musk/Tesla grabbed most of the EV news headlines this past week, there were a few interesting stories around EV charging infrastructure that you may have missed from the last few weeks, including:
The common thread among the articles above is that OEMs are finally coming to the realization that they can’t leave the build out of EV charging stations and infrastructure to others. This realization was underscored by the news from GM that Michael Ableson, GM vice president of Global Strategy, will move to the newly created position of vice president, electric vehicle infrastructure, effective Oct. 1.
Ableson, according to an internal memo, will be responsible "for developing the partnerships, incentives and investments needed to create the necessary electric vehicle charging infrastructure that will remove a critical barrier to acceptance of electrification."
What many industry observers have failed to recognize is that the shift to EVs is also creating a fundamental shift away from the automakers being completely separated from the “refueling” infrastructure and consumer experience. Tesla understood this from the start and whether by accident because of the Electrify America requirement from the VW Dieselgate settlement, or by design - Volkswagen seems to get it. And while we have yet to see any actual plans, it appears that GM may have seen the light as well.
Stay tuned on this front as it portends to be one of the biggest shifts and changes in the automotive industry.
Plugs, not pumps! - Loren
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