Key, Electric Vehicle Headlines

There are three key headlines for US electric vehicle sales after the first six months of 2016:

1. BEV (battery powered vehicles) sales have stalled.
2. PHEV (plug-in vehicle) sales are up dramatically.
3. HEV (hybrid) sales are down dramatically.

US Sales of Electric Vehicles, Including HEVs 2016
Month	Hybrid (HEVs)	PHEVs*	Battery (BEVs)	Totals	Total PHEV & EV
January	20,967	3,137	3,576	27,680	6,713
February	24,371	3,909	4,424	32,704	8,333
March	28,756	5,290	7,115	41,161	12,405
Total 1Q	74,094	12,336	15,115	101,545	27,451
Total 1Q 2015	86,005	7,722	14,127	107,854	21,849
% 1Q change	-16%	37%	7%	-6%	20%
April	28,988	5,842	6,266	41,096	12,108
May	30,573	5,619	6,526	42,718	12,145
June	27,679	6,094	7,678	41,451	13,772
Total 2Q 2016	87,240	17,555	20,470	125,265	38,025
Total 2Q 2015	104,965	10,787	20,069	135,821	30,856
% 2Q change	-17%	63%	2%	-8%	23%

*Extended Range Vehicles

(Data from Electric Drive Transportation Association)

Introduction:

BEVs are vehicles powered entirely by battery power. PHEVs use the battery to travel for the first 35 miles, but then switch to an internal combustion engine to extend its range.

An important distinction between HEVs, such as the Prius, and BEVs or PHEVs is that an HEV can travel on battery power for an extremely short distance, if at all, while BEVs and PHEVs can travel for at least 35 miles using batteries alone.
HEVs are essentially battery-assisted vehicles that use the internal combustion engine to power the car.

Perhaps the most significant observation after the first six months of 2016, is that the sale of battery-powered vehicles (BEVs) has stalled.

This, in spite of the hype that Tesla received when it announced its new Model 3, priced at $35,000, with a 215 mile range.

It’s possible that drivers are beginning to see the PHEV as a better value than a BEV, since PHEVs have a range comparable to ordinary internal combustion engine vehicles of approximately 400 miles.

This may also account for the substantial increase in PHEV sales.

Meanwhile, sales of the HEV, similar to the original Prius, have fallen dramatically.

The price premium of HEVs is difficult to offset when gasoline prices are as low as they have been this year.

Norway, where 50,000 BEVs have been sold, provided generous subsidies for electric vehicles, so generous it was almost foolish to not purchase a BEV, has decided to roll back the subsidies. This could seriously crimp Tesla’s sales in Europe where Tesla has outperformed German luxury car makers.

Meanwhile China has been a disappointment for Tesla.

Tesla

Tesla has been the most important seller of BEVs in the United States, with the LEAF and other manufacturers BEVs accounting for only a small part of BEV sales during the first six months of 2016.

Any slowdown in European sales by Tesla could be significant if BEV sales in the United States have stalled.

In addition, when Tesla sells more than 200,000 vehicles in the United States, Tesla vehicles will no longer be eligible for the $7,500 tax credit, which is likely to affect Tesla’s sales.

The media is, of course, still hyping BEVs, but the next six months could be a negative turning point for Tesla if sales of BEVs remain sluggish.

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Nothing to Fear is available from Amazon and some independent book sellers.

Link to Amazon: http://amzn.to/1miBhXy

Book Cover, Nothing to Fear

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