Letters to the editor

economist.com/letters/2023/08/24/letters-to-the-editor

Sizing up electric cars

The argument that slimmer cars are more virtuous than obese vehicles is irrelevant to the
transition to electric vehicles (Schumpeter, August 12th). To win over consumers, EVs must
outshine their gas-guzzling counterparts in all aspects: emissions, life-cycle cost,
performance, range, availability of charging points and the all-important vroom factor. Simply
hoping that Hummer enthusiasts will switch to electric Minis is wishful thinking. They are
more likely to be swayed by an even more badass yet cleaner electric Hummer.

Schumpeter’s concern that bigger batteries increase EV prices overlooks the historical trend
of industries often seeing costs come down as they innovate and scale up. Market
imbalances in battery metals may indeed lead to short-term increases in prices, but this will
encourage more investments in new chemistries and capacity build-up, further supporting
the long price-reduction trend.

Furthermore, the opportunity to charge EVs during low demand or excess production from
renewable sources offers a significant benefit for the grid, not a strain. With smart charging
solutions, EVs can help decarbonise not only transportation but also electricity generation,
allowing a higher penetration of renewables in our energy mix.

Fabrizio Nastri
Paris

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