Countries around the world are racing to phase out gasoline and diesel cars. As the average amount of copper used in EV vehicles is approximately 3 X (approx. 150 Lbs per EV vehicle compared to 55 Lbs for combustion engine vehicles) that of regular combustion engine vehicles the demand for copper will be explosive.
China, the world’s largest car market, is working on a plan to ban the pr5050oduction and sale of vehicles powered only by fossil fuels. It has plenty of company: India, France, Britain and Norway want to ditch gas and diesel cars in favor of cleaner vehicles.
In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel has hinted that it’s only a matter of time before the country that invented the modern car sets an expiration date of its own.
Britain: The U.K. said in July that it would ban sales of new gasoline and diesel cars starting in 2040 as part of a bid to clean up the country’s air.
Nearly 2.7 million new cars were registered in the U.K. in 2016, making it the world’s sixth biggest market.
France: The government says that it wants to end sales of gas and diesel-powered vehicles by 2040 as it fights global warming.
After that date, automakers will only be allowed to sell cars that run on electricity or other cleaner power. Hybrid cars will also be permitted.
The share of cars powered by electric, hybrid and alternative fuels in France is small — about 4% — but growing fast. Sales of those vehicles were up 25% in the first quarter of 2017.
Germany: Merkel, who is seeking a fourth term as chancellor, was asked last month if it would make sense for Germany to set a deadline to end sales of cars fitted only with gas or diesel engines.
India: The government said earlier this year that every vehicle sold in the country should be powered by electricity by 2030.
“This is an aspirational target,” said Anil Kumar Jain, a government energy adviser. “Ultimately the logic of markets will prevail.” India, which suffers from an acute air quality problem, is home to many of the world’s most polluted cities. But it’s also a country where policymakers can make a big difference. The number of cars on the country’s roads is expected to explode over the coming years as four-wheel vehicles become more affordable for the middle class.
Norway: The government’s transportation plan outlines a clear target: All new passenger cars and vans sold in 2025 should be zero-emission vehicles. Norway is leading the way. About 40% of all cars sold in the country last year were electric or hybrid vehicles.
Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal, Korea and Spain have set official targets for electric car sales. The United States doesn’t have a federal policy, but at least eight states have set out goals.
Globally, 95% of electric cars are sold in only 10 countries: China, the U.S., Japan, Canada, Norway, the U.K., France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden.