Electric vehicles are popular. In 2020, sales of all-electric and plug-in hybrid models shattered records. In Europe, their market share fell from 3.5% to 10%. And manufacturers are constantly expanding their range to consumers who, aware that large cities will ban in the short term the vehicles emitting the most CO2, are starting to consider opting for electrified engines. Faced with ecological and health issues which unambiguously plead in favor of a resolute fight against polluting vehicles, this choice can be understood.
But do electric vehicles really have all the virtues that we attribute to them? Are they as little polluting as we want to say? Place of production, manufacture of batteries, energy mix of countries where recharging takes place … many parameters must be taken into account. The world traveled to the Netherlands, champion of the electric car, to understand the benefits and limitations of these low carbon vehicles.
Find here our special issue of the World Cities on electric cars.