A Widespread Electrified Vehicle Future…Getting Closer, But Not There Yet

by Mark E. Hairr, CAPP

I recall a few years ago talking with engineers when I worked with the Center for the Environment, Transportation and Energy in Chattanooga and they shared stories of how the 1973 Oil Embargo spurred significant investment in vehicle battery research in an effort to move the U.S. off such a heavy reliance on imported petroleum. They remembered the seemingly attainable goal of widespread electric vehicles being all across the country by the end of that decade, but that never materialized.

Fast forward to the 1990s and a renewed emphasis on electric vehicles was spurred by Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandates on vehicle manufacturers in California, but that stalled as the film Who Killed the Electric Car? chronicled parts of this story.

Today, efforts are accelerating every day with a plethora of new electric vehicle offerings including the ever popular SUVs and pickups which dominate the market these days. Additionally, private and public funds are being concentrated on charging infrastructure in both urban and rural areas. Great progress indeed, but there are still major hurdles to climb in terms of affordability and developing that perfect battery that is small enough for vehicle applications, but can also provide hundreds of miles of range comparable to gas-powered vehicles to make them attractive to a wider market. The pace of this electrified future will certainly have major implications on the parking and transportation industry and should keep us all busy trying to hit the bullseye on accounting for this future scenario (not to mention the impact of autonomous vehicles!). When will we finally hit the fully electrified vehicle future? Who knows since this has been predicted to be a sure thing several times for the last 50 years...