2 May 2011: In a press release, International Energy Agency (IEA) transport expert Lewis Fulton answers questions regarding the potential and plausibility of using electric vehicles (EVs) to combat climate change.

Fulton states that, while there currently are only 30 road-certified EVs, at least 40 new models are to be released in 2011 and 40 more in 2012. Noting that it is too early to accurately gauge consumer demand for them, he underlines that government and business fleets have committed to purchasing hundreds of thousands of EVs in coming years. He adds that current commitments are in line with the IEA’s targets outlined in its “Blue Map” pathway to halve global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 (compared with 2005 levels) as presented in its “Energy Technology Perspectives 2010,” but that key challenges remain. Among these, Fulton stresses that EVs are more expensive, harder to refuel, and have lower range than conventional internal combustion engine vehicles, but that progress is being made in these areas. He notes that research, development and deployment on these vehicles increased from US$265 million in 2003 to US$1.6 billion in 2010. [IEA Press Release]