As a tumultuous 2022 drew to a close, the move towards mass adoption of EVs in Europe was taking something of a battering.
Instead of falling, battery prices were rising. Analysts suggested there could be a 400% growth in global demand for lithium by 2030, while attempts to open big new lithium mines in Portugal and Nevada, US, were being frustrated by environmental campaigners.
The prices of EVs of the kind that replace a typical combustion-engine car were also being seen as a significant hurdle to uptake.
In the UK, the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), a government agency, revised down its estimate for UK EV production in 2025 by around 25%. It now thinks just 280,000 EVs will be made here, down from its previous estimate of 360,000 units. The APC blamed an "uncertain" economy that would push more buyers towards cheaper ICE cars.
Over in the US, investment bank Morgan Stanley also pulled back on its estimates of market penetration for EVS, predicting that 11% of new cars in 2025 would be EVs (down from 13% before) and 26% in 2030 (down from 32%).
But one of the more interesting arguments against the dash to EVs came from the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI), which works as a research centre for the European Union Convention, a body that represents all European trade unions at the European Union headquarters in Brussels. Released just before Christmas, the 68-page report was entitled 'Heavier, Faster and Less Affordable Cars'.
The ETUI accused EU regulatory policies of pushing car makers towards bigger and more powerful vehicles (dubbed "regulatory upmarket drift") when "the imperative of reducing CO2 emissions should have encouraged lighter, less powerful and more affordable cars".
Between 2001 and 2020, it claimed, the mass of the average new European car increased by 15%, engine power by 43% and price by 60%.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MG 4
An EV changes your driving style - but not to the detriment of pleasure
PEUGEOT E-208
Time with our French hatch is up. Is it good riddance or au revoir?
In the hot seat
Is the best automotive job in the world actually in miniature scale? Hot Wheels' design boss assures STEPHEN DOBIE it is
Correcting the record
Autocar invented the road test back in 1928 - or did we? KEITH JONES trawls the past to find the true starting point
Road test rebooted
As the Autocar road test forges into its second century, its brief is expanding and it's returning to a familiar place. MATT SAUNDERS explains
Cyber attack
MG is back on the international stage and now trying to return to its sports car roots. MATT SAUNDERS sees if the Cyberster EV can match up to a rival from the present and a relation from the past
KIA PICANTO
As rivals fall by the wayside, Kia's popular city car gets a makeover
MASERATI GRANTURISMO
Latest coupé in a long line of Maserati GT cars hits the UK with V6 power
PORSCHE CAYENNE GTS COUPE
New V8 model gets all the goodies
TOYOTA PRIUS
Back by popular demand with a cool new look and greater driver appeal