Skip to main content

Electric and petrol-powered cars could be price-competitive in 2017

New projections from US advocacy group the Electric Coalition indicate that the cost of owning an electric car is on its way to becoming competitive with petrol-powered cars. The coalition teamed with professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) to calculate expected costs of several types of compact cars, pitting battery-electric against internal combustion engines, plug-in hybrids and hybrid vehicles. Including cost of purchase, fuel, maintenance, federal tax credits and residuals, the data sho
July 29, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
New projections from US advocacy group the Electric Coalition indicate that the cost of owning an electric car is on its way to becoming competitive with petrol-powered cars.
 
The coalition teamed with professional services firm 5019 PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) to calculate expected costs of several types of compact cars, pitting battery-electric against internal combustion engines, plug-in hybrids and hybrid vehicles. Including cost of purchase, fuel, maintenance, federal tax credits and residuals, the data show the cost of owning petrol-powered vehicles continuing to rise through 2024 as costs for hybrids, plug-in hybrids and pure electric cars decline dramatically.
 
“In this analysis, we also saw that battery electric vehicles should have a total cost of ownership that is competitive with internal combustion engines in 2017,” said Jonna Hamilton, the coalition’s vice president of policy.
 
On the production side, that trend is reflected in lithium-ion battery prices, which have dropped from about US$1,000 per kilowatt-hour in 2008, to US$600 per kWh today. Hamilton said analysts expected that price to fall even further, to between US$300 and US$325 per kWh by 2020.
 
The EV market is already showing gains in popularity among consumers as production costs fall and drivers take advantage of remaining rebates and dirt-cheap leasing deals.

Hamilton said more than 110,000 plug-in vehicles were sold in the US over the last two and a half years.
 
Future reports in the collaboration between the Electrification Coalition and PwC will further examine battery costs and sales and evaluate the infrastructure needed to support the market’s growing fleet of electric cars.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Plug’n Drive commence used EV programme in Ontario
    April 18, 2019
    Plug’n Drive has launched a programme which offers CAN$1,000 off the purchase of a used electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (EV) for drivers in Ontario, Canada. Cara Clairman, president and CEO of Plug’n Drive, a non-profit organisation, says: "Used EVs are affordable and available, and this incentive will help more people join the EV revolution." The programme was realised through a collaboration with environmental organisation Clean Air Partnership and local business M.H Brigham Foundation.
  • Transit takes on demanding role
    April 2, 2021
    Community transport - or paratransit - has historically formed the basis of demand-responsive operations. But with new routing technologies, David Crawford sees wider potential
  • Nissan Leaf will power homes
    April 16, 2012
    Nissan Motor Company has unveiled a system which enables electricity to be supplied from the lithium-ion batteries installed in Nissan Leaf to ordinary households, as part of its comprehensive efforts toward the realisation of a zero-emission society. The new system was unveiled at a house built in front of the Nissan global headquarters by Sekisui House Ltd.
  • GE Energy forges charger agreement with Coda Automotive
    March 23, 2012
    GE Energy Industrial Solutions has finalised an automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM) agreement for the sale and distribution of the GE WattStation wall mount electric vehicle (EV) charging station with EV manufacturer, Coda Automotive.