Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/655581
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 20 MARCH 2016 Motoring XI ELE cars will be cheaper to own than conventional cars by 2022, according to a new report. The plummeting cost of batteries is key in leading to the tipping point, which would kickstart a mass market for electric vehicles, Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) analysts predict. The large-scale roll-out of electric vehicles (EVs) is seen as vital in both cutting the carbon emissions that drive climate change and in deal- ing with urban air pollution, which leads to many premature deaths every year. But, despite subsidies in many countries, EVs remain more expensive than conventional cars and the limited range of battery-only cars is still a concern. Cur- rently, just 1% of new cars sold are electric. However, the analysis pub- lished by BNEF on Thursday predicts that the total cost of ownership – combining purchase price and running costs – of battery-only cars will dip below those with internal combustion engines in 2022, even if the conventional cars improve their fuel efficiency by 3.5% a year. The analysis uses the US government's projected oil price of $50-$70 a barrel in the 2020s. If the price is $20, the tipping point is pushed back by between three and nine years. Salim Morsy, senior analyst at BNEF, said: "In the next few years, the cost-of-ownership advantage will continue to lie with conventional cars, and we therefore don't expect EVs to exceed 5% of sales in most markets – except where sub- sidies make up the difference. However, that cost comparison is set to change radically in the 2020s." Colin McKerracher, lead analyst at BNEF, added: "At the core of this forecast is the work we have done on EV bat- tery prices. Lithium-ion battery costs have already dropped by 65% since 2010, reaching $350 per kWh in 2015. We expect EV battery costs to be well below $120 per kWh by 2030, and to fall further after that as new chemistries come in." The report projects that 35% of global new car sales – 41m a year – will be EVs in 2040, with one in four of all cars being an EV by then. This would have a knock-on effect on global energy use, cutting oil consumption by 14% and using 8% of all electricity. New EV sales could be as high as 50% in 2040 if they become widespread in fleets and ride- sharing schemes or as low as 25% if oil prices remain very low for many years. Previous predictions for EV sales have been overly optimistic. President Barack Obama predicted 1m electric cars in the US by 2015: in January that year the total was 280,000. But McKerracher said past predictions were based on very limited data on actual sales and on falling battery costs, while air pollution and fuel efficiency policies are get- ting tougher. The best-selling battery-only EV since 2009 is the Nissan Leaf (186,000 sold) followed by the Tesla model S (79,000), according to BNEF. The best-selling plug-in hybrid EV – which has both electric and conventional engines – is the Chevrolet Volt (87,000). BNEF predict sales of plug-in hybrids will fall after 2030 as battery- only cars get cheaper and have longer range. Sheer Driving Pleasure The All-New BMW X1. www.bmw.com.mt Muscats Motors Ltd. Rue D'Argens, Gżira Phone: 2326 4581/2 Email: info@mml.mizzi.com.mt bmw.com.mt THE ALL-NEW BMW X1. STARTING FROM €38,000. EMBRACE THE UNKNOWN. BMW X1: fuel consumption, urban: -7.6 l/100 km, extra-urban: -5.6 l/100 km, combined: -6.3 l/100 km. CO 2 emissions -127 g/km, combined: -(4.8-5.0). 20 x 3.indd 1 02/12/2015 15:05 KTM RC 390 racing motorcycle wows press at Fapi Motors Electric cars 'will be cheaper than conventional vehicles by 2022' THE KTM RC 390 racing mo- torcycle was unveiled during a press conference held on the 8 March at Fapi Motors Ltd. showroom. 17-year old Maltese rider Ryan Faenza will participate in the International Series FMI Italian Circuit Racing Cham- pionships in Italy, aboard this KTM racing motorcycle. Fae- nza will compete in ten trials, five of which will be for qualify- ing, in the coming months. Each trial will have around 12-15 laps, covering a range of 3km-4.9km on world-class circuits including Mugello, Misano, Imola, and Vallelunga. Faenza will give his utmost to classify in the top positions to secure his place at Valentino Rossi's VR46 academy. Riders can only participate in the FMI Italian Circuit Racing Championships by riding a KTM RC 390 bike that has no modifications and has an en- gine assembled from factory. The KTM RC 390 racing bike is equipped with performance- focused KTM PowerParts, fully adjustable WP Suspension, 44hp, 375cc single-cylinder four-stroke engine housed in a steel trellis chassis and fitted with top-level components. Being a KTM, the RC could only be created in the Ready to Raceway and its potential base as a competitive, capable and yet unintimidating race machine. The bike also has a reduction of 9kg of weight from the unwanted road kit, making this bike a single-minded race machine and corner expert. KTM RC Cup is being held in eight different nations includ- ing Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, United Kingdom, and United States. The winners from each country will participate in the Battle of the Nations, which will be held in Assen, The Nether- lands in October 2016. KTM's racing DNA is already proven with multi-champi- onship wins in Enduro and Motocross, and a record of 15 consecutive titles in the gru- eling Dakar Rally. KTM already competes successfully in the Moto3 series. Further to this, the KTM RC16, will be mak- ing the debut in the MotoGP in 2017. To keep track of these global battles and to find out further information about the KTM please visit www.ktmrc- cup.com. For more information about KTM motorcycles, contact the local authorized dealers at Fapi Motors, Mdina Road Attard on 2339 3000 or 79093508, or send an email at info@fapimotors.com.