The global production of electric vehicles is expected to jump 67% this year, according to a forecast by business information analyst IHS Automotive, ENS has reported. Total worldwide production of electric vehicles is expected to rise to 403,000 in 2014, up from 242,000 in 2013.
The expected 67% rise this year follows a 44% rise in 2013 from the previous year. It is noted that only a 3.6% rise is expected in global manufacturing of all motor vehicles in 2014, so even though the production numbers are still relatively low for electric cars, it’s the percentage growth that’s important at this stage.
The further tightening of European emissions standards in the second half of the year is expected to be largely responsible for the bigger percentage rise in 2014. There will also be a lot more choice for car buyers, as automakers in Europe are expected to have a bunch of electric models available, including BMW (i3), VW (e-Up), Mercedes-Benz (B-Class electric), and Audi (A3 e-tron plug-in hybrid).
In addition to electric car production, the worldwide base of charging stations for electric cars is expected to rise to over 1.1 million units by the end of this year. As an example of this deployment, we recently reported that Tesla Motors is currently busy rolling out its Supercharger stations in the United State and Europe at a rapid pace.
As far as battery-power goes, IHS predicts that this year, and in coming years, automakers will make electric cars with larger batteries that have capacities of about 40 kilowatt hours, which should give them at least a 150-mile (241 km) range on a singe charge.
Image CC licensed by Robert Couse -Baker
Via ENS
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