The Electric Car: A Future Energy Alternative?

Abstract

In July 2017, France presented its future climate plan which is based on ceasing the use of coal to produce electricity by 2022, reducing the country's nuclear usage by one third, banning all petrol and diesel vehicles in the country by 2040, and introducing incentives for new low emission vehicles to phase out polluting vehicles. Other European countries are following suit and promoting the spread of electric vehicles (Norway, Germany and Netherlands in particular). Yet is this the panacea for achieving greenhouse gas reduction in the battle against climate change? In this article, Pierre Bonnaure assesses the forces driving the spread of electric cars and its impediments.