China Incursion Boosts Europe’s Electric Car Choices, But Problems Remain

Dan Smith MARCH 6, 2024

Microlino electric bubble car. (Photo by TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP of him via Getty Images)

AFP via Getty Images

European EV buyers will have little choice in 2023 as domestic manufacturers launch many new models and Chinese players enter the market, but they expect significant improvements in range and technology. is not expecting With the exception of Tesla and some Kia, a recurring problem with many electric cars sold in Europe is exaggerated range and poor highway performance. For example, the Audi E-tron 95 kWh has a battery range of 241 miles, but can only be charged for an average of 180 miles. Highway cruising was bad. Early adopters don't seem worried about this, but after about five years of booming sales, battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales in Western Europe are expected to plateau in 2023. Expected recession. Not with growth. Once all the new vehicles are available, this will at least create downward pressure on prices. Please give me.

Geely Zeekr (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)

VCG by Getty Images

Few battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are still affordable for the average wage earner. However, when safe and comfortable mobility is required, these vehicles are classified as "four-wheeled vehicles" by regulatory authorities. Not required to meet European Union motor vehicle collision safety regulations. In my opinion, European automakers are going through a dead end with larger batteries to reflect the quality of ICE power. This is doomed to failure. Because the more they try, the less affordable the vehicle becomes, the heavier the vehicle, and the more carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted in the manufacturing and disposal process. The evolution of electric vehicles requires a new approach. We need to pursue the strengths of electric vehicles. BEV is unbeatable for short urban and rural travel. The industry wants vehicles with, for example, 100 miles of range, 60 miles per hour top speed, space for two or two children and safety, such as those managed by the Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme). Must provide. This is perfect for your daily commute, shopping or school. Price - $10,000 after tax. If you want long-range capability, buy a plug-in hybrid (normal he is a smaller, rechargeable battery than a BEV, with a range of 50 miles and 400 miles from ICE). According to Schmidt Automotive Research, BEV sales growth in Western Europe will slow in 2022 and stagnate at around 1.5 million units in 2023, with a market share of 14.5%. It is expected to rapidly increase to 2.7 million units (20.0% share) in 2025 and 9.2 million units (65.0%) in 2030. Western Europe has his five big markets: Germany, France, UK, Italy and Spain.

Chinese automaker Ora's Funky Cat electric compact car (Photo by Chesnot/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Investment research firm Jefferies expects sales in the EU of 27 countries to rise from just over 1.5 million units (13.1%) in 2022 to 3.9 million units (31.4% market share) in 2025. . It will be 75.9% in 2030 and 12.7 million (94.4%) in 2035. These are truly heroic predictions that will never be fulfilled unless manufacturers can produce something like a $10,000 BEV for the entry-level mass market. The onslaught of sales from China is aimed at the current European mainstream, with vehicles from Volkswagen and its brands, Hyundai, Kia and its subsidiary Stellantis Group, based there. China's challenges include the Great Wall's Ora brand and its Funky Cat sedan, Dong Feng's Seres 3 SUV, and his BYD's Atto 3 SUV. SAIC's MG is already a very successful compact SUV. The recently launched MG4 starts at around $29,000 after tax, about $10,000 less than similar European offerings. MG's annual sales volume is expected to reach 100,000 units in 2022. Surprisingly, the second phase of the Chinese plan is for the luxury market into the realm of BMW, Mercedes, Audi and Porsche. This includes his BYD Seal, which is a plug-in hybrid, and Great Wall's Wey Coffee 02. Polestar, his BEV subsidiary of China-owned Volvo Geely, has launched a '3' and Geely will also launch his Zeekr brand. Other premium contenders include NIO, Xpeng and Aiways. Good luck trying to sell these machines in a segment where brand power matters.

BYD SEAL (Photo by Victor LOCHON/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Gamma Marafo via Getty Images

this chinese plan^rd Element, a candidate for a $10,000 segment that doesn't exist yet. China has such a small vehicle. That is Hongguang MINI EV, a joint venture between General Motors of the United States, Shanghai Automotive Industry of China, and Wuling. Sales in China last year hit nearly 400,000 of his units, with prices hitting his nearly $5,000. He had planned to sell a European version, redesigned to meet European Union safety standards, for a price of nearly $10,000, but that has now been put on hold. It won't be long before these tiny, affordable BEVs are here. French consultancy Inovev predicts that Chinese sales in Europe will nearly double this year to 150,000. By 2030, the Chinese company will capture his 12.5% to 20% of his BEV market in Europe, which equates to sales of 725,000 to 1.2 million vehicles. New European BEV candidates for 2023 include Audi A6 e-tron, BMW i5, Fiat Panda, Mercedes EQE, Mini (BMW) Aceman, Countryman, Mini Electric and Volkswagen ID.Aero. As for the low-cost BEV category in the sky, Pritar, which will be launched in 2023, will include four-wheelers such as the Renault Mobilize Duo, formerly Twizy, Citroën Ami and Micro Reno. Microlino is based on his BMW Isetta bubble car from the 1950s, but now with his fourth wheel and electric motor, he has only one front door access. Starting at $16,000, the Microlino only meets EU motorcycle safety standards, which puts passengers at risk and is too expensive. These unsuitable models are expected to be withdrawn soon when the Hongguang MINI or similar models hit Europe.

Renault Mobilize Duo. (Photo by ERIC PIERMONT/AFP via Getty Images)

AFP via Getty Images

Earlier this year, I reported on British talk radio station LBC star Iin Dale about his infuriating electric car experience. Earlier this month, Dale said: “I bought it (the Audi e-tron) over a year ago and I hated it from almost day one. Even if I had planned the trip properly and figured out where to charge it, the long trip was fraught with difficulties.In a year of owning the car, I had only done 5,000 miles. I returned it on Thursday and traded it in for another diesel.Environmentalists may yell at me, but I won't be happy with electric cars until the electric car infrastructure is fit for purpose. I suspect it will be just people who drive short distances," Dale said in a column for the Daily Telegraph. Dale has never taken an extended holiday highway trip to the south of France or Spain to test his high-speed cruising ability. This would probably be at least 85 mph, so at most I would expect the travel time to be at least double that of an ICE vehicle.