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As the end of 2021 approaches, this year could go down in history as the time when electric vehicles finally broke into a new world order. Major events over the past twelve months include Lucid Motors with a range of 500 miles, the IPO of Rivian, and an increase in inventory creating America’s second most valuable automaker (after just Tesla, which does not manufacture as electric vehicles), and traditional OEMs are stepping into the game more with new vehicles like the Ford F-150 Lightning and the Subaru Solterra.
Still, consumers may well be a little hesitant to jump into the all-electric arena for their next vehicle, in large part (again) due to anxiety surrounding the range and accessibility of the charger. But the United States Congress just passed a new $ 1 trillion bill championed by President Joe Biden aiming to exponentially increase the number of charging stations for electric vehicles across the country. To learn more about how the infrastructure bill might help persuade hesitant EV car buyers, I reached out to an industry analyst and CARiD Director of Product Training Richard Reina explains how he sees the coming revolution unfolding today.
CARiD Product Training Director Richard Reina
Last time we spoke, Reina touched on all of the many reasons Americans remain so skeptical of electric vehicles. But he also predicted that 2021 could become the year of the electric truck and by all accounts that prophecy holds true. As CARiD’s Product Training Director, Reina keeps abreast of all facets of the automotive industry, including how aftermarket vendors can prepare for changing markets. But when I brought up the infrastructure bill and how much money should be spent on transitioning to electric vehicle adoption, Reina held back a bit.
“One of the most important, if not the most important, part of the current bill is a significant amount of money,†Reina explained. “$ 7.5 billion will be spent on installing more charging stations for electric vehicles in the country.
But from there, how exactly all of those billions will be spent remains a mystery.
“From what I’ve read,†he continued, “the federal government will allocate this money state by state and let the states decide how to spend it. They will allocate it on a regional and county basis. The good news for me is that the stakeholders and businesses closest to the issues will be very much involved in making decisions about how these charging stations should be structured, i.e. where they are. should be placed and how to locate them to give as many people as possible the best access to them.
How to best increase access to chargers
I asked Reina how he thought states were going to distribute the wealth, so to speak, either prioritizing more chargers in big cities where there are already more EVs, or, the money should- it going to more chargers spread across rural areas to expand the potential reach of EVs? Reina also pointed out that the best location for anyone who needs to charge their EV is always at home. Will some of that government money go to discounts or free installation for home chargers?
“Local regulators need to take this very seriously,” he replied, “and think about how to put this in place to accommodate the greatest number of people and minimize inconvenience to the greatest number of people.”
“I know, talking to people and reading a lot about Americans’ willingness to accept EVs, that we have to get to the point where people feel, whether it’s true or not, that EV charging is too. available to them at their local gas station. “
Simply increasing the total number of chargers accessible to the population will not be enough, especially since recharging still takes much longer than filling up with gasoline. And even if charging times are rapidly decreasing – Atlis Motors is promising another EV pickup on the market by the end of 2022 that can fully charge up to a range of 600 miles in just 15 minutes – other factors hampering EV sales still come into play, including reliability issues,
“You can’t force people into a car dealership,†Reina said. “There are other factors there. Is this a car they like? Is it a car they can afford?”
Tesla and Hertz reach agreement
One of the ways Reina thinks more consumers might be convinced to buy an electric vehicle came in the form of a recent announcement by Tesla and Hertz. The car rental company recently decided to buy 100,000 Tesla vehicles, which drove the stock prices of both companies up rapidly.
“I think it’s a fantastic deal on the Tesla and Hertz side,†Reina admitted, “But I hope someone looks at the big picture here. Tesla and Hertz are hoping that the people who don’t own no electric vehicle – and having never even driven an EV, I’ll be renting a Tesla just for the experience, as a test drive. “
But part of that experience includes the expense part of owning an EV. Although many tenants are not out of reach, given Tesla’s current EPA estimate of 358 miles for the long-range Model 3, Will Hertz charge for empty batteries as they do for refueling?
“If Tesla and Hertz really want to make this the best experience for first-time electric vehicle renters, I think they need to do their homework,†Reina warned. “They may need to take extra steps to help the renter make sure they are comfortable with the entire car charging process. And that will cement the whole rental experience.”
But some renters will also be driving longer distances with their Teslas, resulting in completely drained batteries for people who may never have charged an EV before.
“I have to find a charge, figure out how to charge,” Reina imagined these tenants thinking, “I have to plug this thing in and I have to figure out what I’m going to do in the meantime.”
Making reservations for accommodation at hotels, AirBnbs, or timeshares that include an onsite charger can be very helpful for potential Hertz customers. But others will undoubtedly face a steep learning curve when the time comes to find the necessary kilowatts.
More vans entering production
Reina also highlighted how important the current and future electric truck list is to electric vehicle adoption rates, both in major cities and across the country as a whole. Pickup trucks are the three best-selling vehicles in the United States this year so far (by far) and now represent a new form of fully luxury car ownership.
“I keep watching Rivian, I think Rivian is doing really well overall,†Reina told me, “I know how important pickup truck sales are to the big three, that is. say GM, Ford and Stellantis what was once Chrysler Corporation … we’ll have the Rivian pickups, the GMC Hummer, the Ford Lightning is on the way. “
Meanwhile, the Tesla Cybertruck appears to have gone downhill after making headlines in late 2019 and 2020.
“I went to Tesla’s website for the first time in a few months the other day,†said Reina, “and they changed the Cybertruck page. Although you can still deposit a refundable deposit of $ 100, Tesla only lists the three different variants. “
May be Tesla plans to review Cybertruck pricing, multiple engine features or configurations given the many other electric trucks it will now face in the years to come. But every EV pickup will still face competition from ICE and full hybrid options, until more chargers are available in more places.
CARiD launches a new boutique focused on electric vehicles
I also asked Reina how CARiD’s strategy has evolved over the past year, given the potential for radical change that is approaching. After all, if more government spending translates into more chargers and more purchases of electric vehicles, aftermarket support for these electric vehicles must increase accordingly.
“One thing that came as a pleasant surprise to me,†explained Reina, “is discovering that, despite what others may think, many EV owners are still car enthusiasts. that people go green and move away from internal combustion engines, for whatever reason, doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy the driving experience. “
The day after our conversation, CARiD announced the launch of a store specializing in electric vehicles on site that will cater to electric vehicle owners with everything from home charging stations to performance parts and customization options.
“We don’t just sell electric vehicle charging equipment,†Reina revealed, “We appeal to owners of Tesla and other EVs with items like custom wheels, body kits, car kits, suspension for Tesla owners who wish to lower their cars. ”
Reina expects manufacturers to abandon internal combustion by 2030, if not sooner.
“We always look at the market for the long term,†he said. “We think long term. Nine years seems a long way off, but it isn’t. “
Sources: npr.org, carid.com, forbes.com, insideevs.com, tesla.com and globenewswire.com.
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