Is Spain ready for the electric vehicle of the future?

The recent Climate Change Law proposed by the Spanish Government has put the electric vehicle of the future on the table. Thus, a new debate on electric cars has opened: Is the electricity grid infrastructure ready to respond to the electric vehicle of the future?

The law published by the Ministry of Ecological Transition proposes new regulations. The objective is to reduce emissions rates in Spain thinking about the electric vehicle of the future.

Main lines of the new Climate Change Law

The Ministry of Ecological Transition presented a Climate Change Law that gives total priority to renewable energies. They include, above all, mandatory green criteria. These are the main aspects to take into account:

• From 2040 onwards, the registration and sale in Spain of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles with direct carbon dioxide emissions will not be permitted. In other countries, there are also deadlines for the sale of diesel and gasoline cars.
• One of the main goals of the Law will be that by 2050 there will not be a single gasoline or diesel car left in Spain. The aim is that all electricity produced will be renewable.
• Municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants must have low-emission zones no later than 2023.
• It proposes a target of 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. A 35% penetration of renewable energies, although Brussels agreed on 32.5%. And 35% energy efficiency by 2030.
• The new Climate Change Law requires the installation of electric charging points at all gas stations with a high sales volume.

5 keys to the electric vehicle of the future

With this law

This law seeks to improve the implementation of the electric vehicle in Spain. Because it is clear that the automotive market is going to change drastically in 2030. All this due to the impact of technological development and shared transport.

The study “Eascy: the five dimensions that will transform the automotive sector” by PwC points out some of the keys. To this end, the main trends that may affect the automotive sector in the coming years have been analyzed.

According to this study, the electric vehicle of the future will have the following characteristics:

1. It will be a connected car. In Europe and the United States, 70% of cars will be connected by 2030. In China, the figure will be 100%.
2. Society is demanding more sustainable energy. Thus, by 2030, 95% of new cars registered will be electric or hybrid. There will be a leap towards autonomous vehicles, although it will be more gradual. The introduction of autonomous cars will begin in 2022. But it will not be until the end of the decade when between 85 and 90% of cars will be driven by people. Manufacturers will focus on annual updates and upgrades to their range of cars. This way, they will be able to incorporate the latest developments in both hardware and software.
3. It will be shared. Currently, less than 1% of car journeys in Europe are made using shared transport services. Data indicates that by 2030 this could reach 35% of the kilometres travelled in Europe, 34% in the United States and 46% in China.

The vehicle of the future will therefore be electric, autonomous, shared, connected and updated annually.