Nov 25, 2019 - Energy & Climate
The world may have seen its peak demand for gas-powered vehicles
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Sales of gasoline-powered light-duty vehicles in the U.S. are unlikely to ever top their 2016 level of 17.3 million, according to an analysis from the think tank Third Way.
Why it matters: Transportation is the country's largest source of greenhouse gas emissions.
The big picture: The report adds to the emerging signs of "peak ICE."
- That's the prospect that sales of internal combustion engine (ICE) cars in the U.S. and perhaps the world will never rise again.
What's next: "Sales of gasoline powered vehicles will continue to fall due to the strong growth and now competitive viability of electric vehicles," the report predicts.
- EVs are just a tiny share of vehicle sales right now.
- But the analysis notes they have momentum, with sales of plug-in hybrids and full electrics combined growing fourfold since 2015 to reach an estimated 433,000 this year.
- Nevertheless, it calls for policy measures that would speed up adoption of EVs, including incentives for re-tooling manufacturing plants to produce new models.
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