Column: Despite all the bumps, things are actually going quite well with the electric car - AutoReview.nl

We especially notice it on our social media: the electric car is a divisive issue. Opponents have handy trump cards: the speed with which you can fill your fuel tank, the greater range and the ease with which you can refuel anywhere in Europe. An electric car performs well in all areas. And yes, electric cars are currently far too expensive if you have an average salary.

Everyone is allowed to think critically about the EV, as long as it does not result in cynicism. Remember that developments are actually moving very quickly since the Nissan Leaf - the first 'normal' electric car - came onto the market in 2010. A winter drive from Utrecht to Eindhoven already led to range stress. Not least because of the lack of charging stations.

Electric Toyota 1000 kilometer range

No shortage of innovation, see Auto Review 9 for an extensive article about this. Bee Toyota We are working on a battery that is smaller, lighter and cheaper than current battery packs, and at the same time charges very quickly and has a range of more than 1000 kilometers. It will be on the market in four years. This summer, Nio used the first solid-state battery with high energy density in a passenger car.

Not only car brands are working hard on solutions, TU Eindhoven has also focused on electric cars. The electric LMP3 racing car with which they want to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans can be charged in the time of a normal refueling, without the battery overheating. You cannot simply cut and paste the technology for the racing car into a passenger car, but the students are convinced that it will soon be as easy to load as it is to refuel.

Electric Autoroute du Soleil

Furthermore, an important EU law that was adopted in late summer remained underexposed in the news. There will be a charging station for electric cars every 60 kilometers on main European roads. Not somewhere in the distant future, but already in 2025. Moreover, the stations must be able to charge with at least 150 kW and you can simply pay with your debit card or contactless. So you no longer have to fiddle with all kinds of charging cards.

Cheap electric car 2024

And then everything will come together nicely, because from next year less expensive electric cars will finally come onto the market, such as the Renault 5 and Citroen e-C3. The Cupra-Skoda-Volkswagen triplets will follow in 2025. Also MG has an electric Volkswagen Polo competitor announced for 2024. All manufacturers promise a price around 25,000 euros. Volkswagen is even working on a car that costs less than 20,000 euros. The EV is not the solution for a better climate, but governments, universities and car brands are increasingly removing barriers to make electric driving accessible to more people.