THIS WILL BE THE CRUCIAL YEAR FOR ELECTRIC CARS

 Year in which electric cars were implemented with great force

It is one of the main industrial transformations perhaps in the history of capitalism”, said an executive. The growing demand for electric cars drives a radical transition that could benefit the environment.

Sales of battery-only vehicles rose in the United States, Europe and China last year, while deliveries of fossil fuel-powered vehicles stagnated. Demand for electric vehicles is so strong that automakers require buyers to put down a deposit months in advance. And some models are out of stock for the next two years.

Battery cars are experiencing a breakthrough moment and will become more common this year, when automakers start selling electric versions of one of America's favorite vehicle types: pickup trucks. Its arrival represents the biggest revolution in the automobile industry since Henry Ford introduced the Model T in 1908 and could have far-reaching consequences for factory workers, businesses and the environment. Tailpipe emissions are one of the biggest contributors to climate change.

Although electric vehicles still represent a small slice of the market — nearly 9 percent of new cars sold globally last year were electric, down from 2.5 percent in 2019, according to the International Energy Agency — , its rapid growth could make 2022 the year the advancement of battery cars is unstoppable, putting an end to any doubt that the internal combustion engine is on its way to being obsolete.

The proliferation of electric cars will improve air quality and help curb global warming. The air in Southern California is already a bit cleaner thanks to the popularity of electric vehicles there. And the boom is unexpected good news for US President Joe Biden, who has struggled to advance his climate agenda in Congress.

The auto industry is on track to spend half a trillion dollars over the next five years to transition to electric vehicles, according to estimates from investment firm Wedbush Securities. That money will go toward refurbishing and building factories, training workers, writing software, modernizing dealerships, and much more. The companies are planning more than a dozen new electric car and battery factories in the United States alone.