Drivers are increasingly ditching Toyota and Honda gas cars in favor of EVs
The electric vehicle rollout is gaining momentum as new car shoppers are increasingly switching to EVs, even if their preferred brand is not currently offering any. Ford, GM, and Hyundai’s new electric vehicles are winning over Toyota and Honda gas-car buyers, while Tesla continues establishing itself as a top automaker.
Yesterday we reported on the recent S&P Global Mobility data suggesting new electric vehicles are taking market share from Tesla.
And that is true, but it’s also misleading. Tesla was a pioneer in the US electric vehicle market, controlling nearly 100% at one point. As automakers race to fill the expanding pool of drivers looking to switch to electric vehicles, a loss in market share is inevitable.
The latest data shows Tesla still controls 65% of the market through the first nine months of 2022. Of the 525,000 new electric vehicles registered in the United States this year, almost 340,000 were Tesla models.
Tesla’s growth has helped the United States cross 6% EV market share this past quarter, up from just 2.2% in 2021, as new car buyers are increasingly switching from gas to zero-emission electric vehicles.
However, Tesla is one of many companies with their sights on the US EV market now. Ford, GM, Hyundai, and others have successfully introduced their own electric models that are enticing buyers to convert.
Meanwhile, those who have been slow to introduce fully electric options, like Toyota and Honda, are losing faithful buyers as drivers are embracing pure EVs over their gas-powered counterparts.
Electric vehicles are winning over traditional gas buyers
The S&P Global Mobility data shows a glaring consumer preference change trending toward electric vehicles.
Although this is good news for those early to introduce electric vehicles, it’s costing two of the largest companies on some of their most popular models. Take a look at which electric vehicles customers are trading their gas cars in for.
Do you see a trend here? Tesla, Ford, Chevrolet (GM), and Hyundai have all aggressively invested resources toward advancing fully electric vehicles.
Meanwhile, the brands customers are switching from have been slow to make the transition. Japanese automakers Toyota and Honda are seeing their customers leave to test other brands that have successfully introduced pure EV models.
Ford announced Wednesday it produced its 150,000th Mustang Mach-E as it looks to achieve a 2 million EV run rate by 2026. Other automakers are achieving similar milestones as they look to close the gap Tesla has established. Most importantly, the EV competition is doing what it was designed to do – convert drivers to zero-emission, fully electric vehicles.
Electrek’s Take
Drivers are increasingly trading in their top-selling gas-powered vehicles for new advanced EV models. Although as consumer preference continues trending toward electric vehicles, these models are bound to lose some faithful buyers, the data reveal an important point – car buyers are ready and willing to make the switch even if their favorite brands (Toyota, Honda) are not quite there yet.
Which electric vehicle will you purchase next?
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Tesla is rumored to be planning a new battery factory to produce LFP cells in the US with China’s CATL, the world’s biggest battery manufacturer.
Over the last few years, CEO Elon Musk has said multiple times that Tesla plans to shift more electric cars to LFP batteries in order to overcome nickel and cobalt supply concerns.
Iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which don’t use nickel or cobalt, are traditionally cheaper and safer, but they offer less energy density, which means less efficiency and a shorter range for electric vehicles.
However, they have improved enough recently that it now makes sense to use cobalt-free batteries in lower-end and shorter-range vehicles. It also frees up the production of battery cells with other, more energy-dense chemistries to produce longer-range vehicles.
The main issue is that LFP battery cell production is currently almost entirely concentrated in China. Therefore, it creates a logistical problem for electric vehicles produced in other markets.
Furthermore, in the US, it creates a problem for automakers trying to take advantage of the new federal tax credit for electric vehicles, which requires that the batteries of electric vehicles be produced in North America in order for buyers to get the full $7,500 credit. It creates a demand to bring LFP production to North America.
Ford has recently announced a plan to partner with CATL, the world’s biggest battery cell manufacturer, to build LFP battery cells at a $3.5 billion factory in Michigan.
Now Tesla is rumored to be doing the same thing. Bloomberg first reported the rumor:
The EV maker discussed plans involving Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. with the White House in recent days, said the people, who asked not to be identified revealing private conversations. Tesla representatives sought clarity on the Inflation Reduction Act rules that the Biden administration is finalizing this week, according to some of the people. Rohan Patel, the company’s senior global director of public policy, was among those involved with the discussions, one of the people said.
The report is light on detail, but it states that Tesla is looking at a similar structure to Ford’s own deal with CATL. Texas has also been rumored to be a possible location for the new factory.
The LFP cells would enable Tesla buyers to get the full tax on the base Model 3, which is about to lose the incentive because its cells currently come from CATL’s Chinese factories.
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Swedish electric airplane maker Heart Aerospace is joining forces with BAE Systems to develop a battery system for its ES-30 electric plane.
Heart partners with BAE to develop electric plane battery
Heart Aerospace is paving the way for sustainable electric air travel to become the norm with its leading-edge zero-emission aircraft.
We first covered the company in 2021 after it made waves with its ES-19 electric airplane. The aircraft was designed to carry up to 19 people up to 250 miles (400 km), perfect for short-distance travel.
The innovation was enough to attract an investment from the third largest US air carrier, United Airlines, in July 2021. United committed to purchasing and deploying 100 ES-19 electric aircraft to its fleet as it works to erase emissions from its fleet “without relying on traditional carbon offsets.”
Air Canada, the largest airliner in Canada, invested $5 million into Heart last year in addition to ordering 30 of its newest model, the ES-30.
Heart introduced the ES-30 last year, an electric plane driven by four electric motors and a battery system. The electric aircraft will have a fully-electric zero-emission range of up to 200 km (124 miles) and 30-minute fast charge capabilities. Hybrid reserve turbogenerators allow travel of nearly 500 miles (800 km) at 25 people max.
To advance the ES-30 battery system, Heart is partnering with BAE Systems, best known for its leading defense and aerospace solutions. The battery system will be the “first of its kind” for a conventional takeoff and landing regional aircraft, operating with zero emissions and significantly reduced noise.
The collaboration will utilize BAE Systems’ over 25 years of experience electrifying heavy-duty industrial vehicles. Chief operating officer at Heart Aerospace, Sofia Graflund, said:
BAE Systems’ extensive experience in developing batteries for heavy-duty ground applications, and their experience in developing safety critical control systems for aerospace, make them an ideal partner in this important next step for the ES-30 and for the aviation industry.
Heart Aerospace says it already has 230 orders and another 100 options for the ES-30 electric aircraft. In addition, Heart says it has a letter of intent for another 108 planes. The ES-30 is scheduled to enter service in 2028.
Heart Aerospace is aiming to double the all-electric range of its aircraft by the late 2030s with close to 250 miles (400km) range. In addition to offering zero emissions, electric airplanes feature lower costs (electricity compared to jet fuel) and less maintenance due to engine repair.
Electrek’s Take
Although 124 miles may not seem like much, it will be perfect for regional air travel while building a base for the future of zero-emission air travel.
The 30-minute fast charge feature is perfect for turning around flights quickly in between loading passengers and luggage.
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