"Turmoil as car industry puts new EV plans on hold & moves to PHEV. How did we get in this mess?" -Harry's Garage video

[Tooney]

Incredibly high taxes on some European cars mentioned in this Harry's Garage video.

Car makes are in turmoil as they cancel plans for new EVs and return to ICE engined PHEVs. This wasn't meant to happen, how did they get in this mess? Well, Dieselgate is partly to blame..​

 

[anonymouse]

Harry is a good chap but I lost the will to live part-way into his 21 minute ramble.
So I threw a transcript into ChatGPT and asked it to summarise. This should save you 20 mins (although accuracy is not guaranteed ).

The video commentary discusses the current turmoil in the UK and European car markets, focusing on shifting manufacturer strategies, government regulations, and the future of electric vehicles (EVs), hybrids, and internal combustion engines (ICEs).


Key Points:

1. Manufacturers Reversing EV Commitments:
• Many car brands previously committed to full electrification by 2030 but are now rethinking their strategies.

• Lotus initially planned to go all-electric but is now considering hybrid models due to low EV sales.

• Volvo has reversed its full-electric pledge, seeing continued demand for plug-in hybrids.

• BMW has committed to keeping its V8 engines indefinitely for certain markets.

• Bentley has canceled its full-EV plans and restarted internal combustion engine (ICE) development.

• Audi has halted production of the Q8 e-tron due to plummeting demand for premium EVs.

• Porsche has suffered from significant EV sales declines (e.g., the Taycan is down 40% in 2024).

• Aston Martin has delayed its first EV by at least three years.

2. Why the Industry Is in This State:
• The shift to EVs was largely influenced by Dieselgate (VW emissions scandal in 2015), which made diesel unpopular.

• In response, regulators introduced Euro 7 emissions standards, making diesel and petrol engines more expensive to produce.

• Tesla’s success and market valuation encouraged traditional automakers to pivot towards EVs.

• However, early EVs didn’t fully meet consumer expectations, leading to rapid depreciation and decreased demand.

• The rise of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) with longer electric ranges (50+ miles) has shifted consumer interest away from full-EVs.

3. The Role of Government Policies:
• Governments have rushed EV mandates without considering consumer demand.

• The UK’s Zero Emission Mandate (ZEM) penalizes hybrids even if they produce very low emissions, categorizing them the same as high-pollution cars.

• High taxes on CO2 emissions and vehicle weight in France make traditional petrol and diesel cars nearly unaffordable.

• European governments may increase car taxes in the UK to push consumers towards EVs.

4. The Future of the Car Market (2025 and Beyond):

• Small electric cars like the Renault R5 will likely drive EV adoption due to affordability.

• Premium EVs will continue to struggle with high production costs and low profitability.

• China’s EV manufacturers (e.g., BYD) will gain market share because they can sell carbon credits to traditional manufacturers, making their EVs cheaper.

• The global EV transition will take longer than expected due to resistance from consumers and slow adoption in markets like the U.S., India, and Japan.

5. Outlook:

• Electric is not for everyone, and the market will remain diverse with hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and ICEs still playing a role.

• The UK government needs to adjust regulations to be more realistic about consumer behavior.

• Full EV adoption by 2035 is unlikely, and it may take until 2050 for a complete transition.


Conclusion:


The car industry is in a state of confusion, with manufacturers backtracking on EV plans and government policies misaligned with market realities. The future will likely see a mix of EVs, hybrids, and ICEs, rather than a rapid switch to 100% electric vehicles.

 

[chun]

Harry is a good chap but I lost the will to live part-way into his 21 minute ramble.
So I threw a transcript into ChatGPT and asked it to summarise. This should save you 20 mins (although accuracy is not guaranteed ).

What harry and all of these people miss is that 2035 is a ban on NEW ice cars. You can still buy 2nd hand and existing inventory or ice cars.
Yes, full EV adoption by 2035 is unlikely, it won't happen. But that's not what the regulations expect. Regulations expect manufacturers to stop selling NEW ice cars by 2035.
In the beggining it was 2030, until goverments realised that germany is incapable of producing EVs for the masses, aka cars cheaper than 100k...