Why don't foreign countries develop electric vehicles?
3 Answers
Foreign electric vehicle markets are primarily market-driven. Currently, the profitability of the electric vehicle market is not strong. Foreign countries are also developing new energy vehicles, but their concepts or development directions differ. Japan focuses on hybrid vehicles, Europe emphasizes turbocharged diesel vehicles, and the United States prioritizes hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Below are additional details: 1. Foreign countries: Many newly produced vehicles abroad already utilize highly advanced turbocharged diesel engines. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are currently constrained by the high cost of hydrogen fuel cells, preventing widespread adoption. However, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are considered one of the ultimate future directions for new energy vehicles. 2. Domestic: China's promotion of electric vehicle industrialization is mainly government-led, driven by concerns over energy security and the opportunity to catch up with Europe, the US, and Japan in the automotive industry. Additionally, China's abundant lithium and rare earth resources provide cost advantages for electric vehicle development.
I live in rural Canada, where promoting electric vehicles is quite challenging. There are too few charging stations, and the nearest one is a 40-kilometer drive away, which is very inconvenient. The high cost of batteries makes electric cars about 20,000 CAD more expensive than gasoline-powered vehicles, putting them out of reach for many. Government subsidies are also minimal, unlike in big cities where they are more substantial. Additionally, the cold winters here cut battery range by half, often requiring mid-trip charging, which wastes time. I believe economic factors are the main reason. If there were more investment in infrastructure and wider availability of charging stations, things might improve. But for now, people still prefer gasoline cars for their affordability and reliability. In the long run, slower adoption abroad is due to high costs and insufficient policy support, and changing this will take time.
As a tech enthusiast, I believe the slow development of electric vehicles abroad is largely due to technological bottlenecks. Low battery storage efficiency and long charging times, often exceeding an hour, are far less convenient than refueling. Especially in American suburbs, range anxiety during long-distance driving is common. Although technological innovations continue, they lack maturity and fail to reduce costs. Additionally, the incomplete coverage of charging networks, particularly in rural areas, discourages potential users. In contrast, traditional gasoline vehicles are simpler and more reliable to maintain. I believe progress will come in the future, but unresolved technical challenges remain the key issue now. I hope for more breakthroughs, such as solid-state batteries, to accelerate widespread adoption.
