Electricnick, The EV Revolution

When it comes to pushing a new technology, there are no better ways then incentives, mostly tax cuts and financial rebates.  Different governments handle things differently.  Find out what works, and what raises questions.

The gist is that while most car companies are scrambling to develop electric drive technologies while keeping it affordable and profitable, they also have to work with governments that try to balance an even bigger picture, that of maintaining a healthy economy.  Different countries tackle problems differently, which accounts for sales of certain vehicles doing better in certain places, and not as well elsewhere.

West Vs East.  Yes, we are again comparing how the West reacts and how the East tackles things.  Having fundamental different ways of approaching solutions, Asia and western countries meet challenges differently.  For instance, the Honda Insight sales have outperformed expectations in Asia but have not done nearly as well in the U.S., according to Earth2Tech.  Upon further research, it seems to point to the higher price of gas in Asia.

Back To Gas Price.  If gasoline is cheap in the U.S., it is not in Japan, or Europe where smaller fuel efficient car sales are still holding up.  If Asia, Europe and the U.S. offer somewhat similar tax incentives for hybrids and pure electric vehicles, EV, the results vary according to the price of gas at the pump.  The U.S. still has cheap gas which has not deterred consumers from gas guzzlers… at least for now.

Certain countries adopt radical solutions that may put them well ahead of the curve in the long run.  Denmark taxes gas cars 180%, via the Denmark site, which is a sure deterrence.  Sweden has cut its fossil fuel energy buy more than 50%, according to the Regeringen.  Most of it comes from hydro and other alternative sources.

Until the U.S. coherently tackles the problem of cheap gasoline and continues incentives toward cleaner cars, its fuel efficient car sales will lag behind which could hold it back in the long run.  Thankfully, OPEC is working to raise the price of gas, helped by investors coming back into the speculative petroleum market.