Electric vehicles

Abstract

Electric vehicles will play a dominant role in the transition to a low-carbon transportation system. As we track and forecast this evolution, learning rates help to quantify the historical rate and pace of change for emerging transportation options, the interaction of technology-specific and system-wide changes, and the economics of different policy options. In this chapter, we review the leading issues related to determining learning rates for electric vehicles and the potential scale-up for battery electric vehicles worldwide. Globally, electric vehicle deployment has increased rapidly over the past decade. Continued growth over the coming decade remains critical to achieve the level of ambition necessary to decarbonize the transportation sector. Therefore further data on learning rates and studies on innovation in battery electric vehicles are needed to enable and benefit from their decarbonization potential. In addition, research on incentives to develop appropriate technologies and policies to integrate electric vehicles into the existing electric grid infrastructure and transportation systems will inform further policy options and cost-reduction targets.