The popularity of EVs has been building steam over the years, but some experts predict that 2021 is the year that consumers will really see EVs take off as some of the largest brands in the world—from Amazon to United Airlines to Ford—announce the adoption of EV technology.
In many cases those companies who have already made the move to electric are investing even more. With a 10-year, multi-billion dollar contract signed between the US Postal Service and Oshkosh Defence, thousands of electric mail trucks will be rolled out in the United States. This contract comes on the heels of President Biden’s announcement to transition all government fleet vehicles to EVs.
United Airlines has signed a $1 billion deal with EV manufacturer Archer for electric air taxis, and Amazon, which is already making deliveries with electric vans in Los Angeles has purchased 100,000 more from Rivian, an EV startup.
Moving well beyond the realm of startups, the world’s top car manufacturers are pushing change as well. Ford has doubled their investment in EVs and will release an electric version of their Mustang and the F-150 pickup. By mid-decade, Ford plans to spend $27 billion manufacturing electric vehicles.
General Motors has announced the end to production of gas-powered vehicles by 2035. The company has also launched a venture with Korea’s LG Chem in an effort to mass produce advanced battery cells for EVs.
Change for the greater good is not the only thing fueling legacy automakers to make the shift to EVs. According to Green Car Reports, three-quarters of 18-34 year olds surveyed said they would “be willing to pay more for an electric car,” and 80 per cent said they would prefer to buy an alternative fuel vehicle.
Here in Canada, Facedrive has recently acquired EV subscription company Steer, and will be bringing an EV subscription service to Canada, starting in Toronto. Many companies are thinking outside the box when it comes to EV subscription services. One of Tesla’s biggest competitors in China—Nio—has begun offering batteries-as-a-service. Buyers can lease their EV battery and pay less for the purchase of the vehicle. Consumers can also choose to exchange batteries after a few years of use.
