U.S. plug-in car production significantly increased in recent years: DOE

Production of EVs (BEVs, PHEVs and HEVs) significantly increased in recent years, especially in 2021 when the market share of this segment nearly doubled year-over-year to settle at roughly 14 per cent, the US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Vehicle Technologies Office said in its latest report.

The DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Office underlined in the report that increasing sales of plug-in electric cars in the U.S. have finally started reflecting in the country’s production stats, but non-rechargeable hybrid cars remained significantly ahead.

Production of gasoline cars is on the decline, while diesel car production also improved slightly. The hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) weren’t included in the chart, as this segment’s share remained almost zero.

The market share of conventional hybrids (HEVs) accounted for 8.9 per cent share of the overall car market last year, which is nearly two times more than BEVs and PHEVs counted together. It may be noted here that the first mainstream hybrid cars entered the U.S. market as the 2020 models, while BEVs/PHEVs have been in the market since 2010 as the Nissan LEAF and Chevrolet Volt were officially launched in the market in December 2010 as 2011 models. Of course, a few EVs were available earlier as well.

The future is always unknown, but the general expectation is that the market share of xEVs, particularly all-electric cars, will enjoy a significant rise increase in production and sales in the coming years.

The year of 2022 is expected to be spectacular as most of auto brands have already started producing EVs locally or they are preparing for the same. In any case, the volume is sure to rise in the not too distant future.

The DOE noted that the ongoing time represents a transformation period associated with massive capital investment in the field of car production, battery production, and electric motor production. All these massive capital investments are expected to give a big boost to the economy. Electric car pioneer Tesla’s Fremont, California-based manufacturing plant is now running at a record rate. Many other manufacturers, including Ford Motor Co. and General Motors (GM), are also accelerating their transition from conventional internal combustion engines (ICEs) to environment-friendly electric powertrains. On top of that, numerous foreign auto brands like Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen (VW), Lexus and Honda are eager to locally produce electric models, thanks to the U.S. government’s policies that are encouraging foreign manufacturers for the same.