Summary
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- The US was behind in adopting hybrid and electric vehicles compared to Europe and Japan
- The US lags in EV charging infrastructure and BEV sales compared to Europe and China
- Toyota Mirai celebrated its 10-year anniversary with 27,455 units sold, while Toyota had 267,564 cumulative BEV sales
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Article
The Honda Insight, the first hybrid car in the United States, arrived in December 1999, marking the 25th anniversary of hybrid vehicles in the country. While the US has made progress in adopting electric vehicles (EVs) over the years, it still lags behind countries like China and Europe. In fact, data shows that the US has far fewer public EV charging points compared to these regions, indicating a significant gap in infrastructure development. Despite this, the US did reach 8.2% of new car sales being battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in 2024, showing some improvement in EV adoption.
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have also seen some milestones in the US market, with the Toyota Mirai being the first hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle available in the country. Despite the hype around hydrogen fuel cell technology, BEVs have outperformed hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in terms of sales, with Toyota selling nearly ten times more BEVs than hydrogen fuel cell models. The number of hydrogen stations in the US has even decreased since the launch of the Toyota Mirai, indicating the challenges that hydrogen infrastructure faces in the country.
The US has a long way to go in catching up to countries like China and Europe in terms of EV adoption and infrastructure development. While the US reached 8.2% of new car sales being BEVs in 2024, Europe reached 16% and China reached 25%, showcasing the gap in progress between regions. With more committed political leaders and a broader EV charging infrastructure, Europe and China are poised to accelerate further ahead in the transition to electric mobility.
Reflecting on these milestones, it is important to track progress in the automotive industry and acknowledge areas where improvements can be made. The 25th anniversary of hybrids and the 10th anniversary of the Toyota Mirai serve as reminders of the evolution of clean transportation technologies. By supporting independent cleantech coverage, individuals can contribute to accelerating the cleantech revolution and fostering innovation in the industry.
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