The future of electrification – acceleration or reinvention?

During the first quarter of 2020, Kia increased sales of its electrified vehicles by 21%, despite challenging conditions in the wider market. This just reaffirms something we’ve known for a while now – electrification is the path to future growth and long-term sustainability.

As I see it, the uptake of electric and hybrid cars still depends largely on provision of government support. The countries where electrification prospers – Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and even the UK – offer grants for electric vehicles (EVs) to drive demand. What is really essential after the pandemic is that the EU and individual countries don’t pull back from offering these incentives. Because without support, the rate of uptake will reduce.

It may be very tempting for cash-strapped governments during these austere times to cut support, because it doesn’t feel important. But they should remember the numerous benefits that EVs offer to consumers and how they contribute towards achieving national and global emissions targets. One option is to maintain these grants while scrapping older, higher-emitting vehicles. It’s a system that has worked in the past, and means manufacturers stand a chance of meeting emissions regulations.

At Kia, we know that electrification is the future. It’s certainly our future, and we will push ahead with our mid- to long-term ‘Plan S’ electrification strategy. We are funding the research and development needed now to make sure we have the vehicles ready to meet the growing levels of demand.

We have already started to think about the concept of mobility after the pandemic. In the wake of COVID-19, many people could be reluctant to use public transport, but it doesn’t mean that they won’t travel. Many may prefer instead to buy a small car with low running costs. In fact, research from China already suggests people are moving away from using buses and trains because it is very difficult to socially distance using these types of transport.

For the good of the environment, it is important that consumers consider zero or ultra-low emission vehicles for their next car purchase. There are likely to be many people looking for smaller, more eco-friendly vehicles that can be used to move around populated areas in a clean way, and that are easy to use. We must do everything we can to nurture this demand.