Are We Taking the Right Turn by Massively Switching to EVs? A Transatlantic Perspective
Many governments have pledged to rapidly replace Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles (ICEVs) with electric vehicles (EVs). This is no mere technological swap—it’s a sweeping transformation that touches politics, economics, natural resources, the environment, social inequalities, and how we live.
This article critically analyses the transition to EVs. First, I look at the current landscape of vehicle production and use. Then I analyze the EV market and public policy support. Finally, I assess this shift's direct and indirect impacts on electric mobility.
Three Guiding Principles
We do not move vehicles; we move people, goods, and freight.
An EV charged from a coal plant is a coal vehicle.
The environmental footprint of an electric vehicle does not begin when it starts rolling, but when it is manufactured—and it does not end before it is scrapped.
The Car as a Status Symbol
For many, car ownership signals achievement. It is unsurprising that vehicles—especially large or expensive ones—serve as social markers beyond their practical utility. The pickup truck is a prime example in North America, while in Europe, premium-brand SUVs increasingly play a similar role, despite cities like Paris and Berlin introducing higher parking fees and restrictions for oversized vehicles to curb their appeal.
A Market in Constant Growth
In 2024, global vehicle production reached 89.1 million units, bringing the total number of vehicles in circulation worldwide to over 1.6 billion—about one vehicle for every five people. North America alone accounts for 375 million vehicles, with the U.S. leading at 880 vehicles per 1,000 people, Canada at 690, and Mexico at 430.
Europe presents a mixed picture. Countries like Germany and Italy have high vehicle densities, but urban areas increasingly restrict car use. Cities like Amsterdam and Copenhagen have long championed alternatives to car dependency, making them models of low-car urban design within the EU.
SUVs have surpassed conventional cars in sales since 2011. Around 330 million SUVs are now on the road, with 47.6 million sold in 2024. This segment, worth over $900 billion, continues to grow. In the EU, SUVs account for a growing share of new registrations, despite EU climate targets and urban policies aimed at limiting their spread.
Weight and Power on the Rise
Following the 1973 oil crisis, vehicles in the U.S. became lighter—car weight dropped 20% through the 1970s and 1980s. Europe experienced a similar trend as fuel efficiency became a priority during the energy crisis. Since then, however, both sides of the Atlantic have seen vehicle weight and power climb. Over half of new vehicles now have more than 250 horsepower. Since 1975, average vehicle power has doubled globally.
Although emissions and fuel consumption per vehicle have improved, especially under stricter EU emissions regulations, efficiency gains are undermined by growing fleet size, vehicle weight, and engine power.
The Hidden Costs of Automobiles
These heavier vehicles damage infrastructure everywhere. In Québec, 40% of transport infrastructure is rated poor or very poor. Across the EU, aging road and bridge networks face similar challenges, exacerbated by growing traffic volumes and heavier vehicles. The European Commission’s Green Deal highlights the need to prioritize public transport and cycling infrastructure in response.
Transport accounts for 15% of global CO₂ emissions, with passenger transport the largest source. The EU has committed to cutting transport emissions by 90% by 2050, a target that underscores the urgency of rethinking vehicle numbers and types.
A Concreted Footprint
Cars shape our built environment. A vehicle is parked 95% of the time. In the U.S., there are about eight parking spaces per car. In Europe, while cities like Madrid and Paris have removed parking to make space for pedestrians and cycling, suburban sprawl still sustains high car dependency in many regions.
Electric Vehicles: The Solution?
EVs are not new. By the late 1800s, functional electric vehicles appeared on both sides of the Atlantic. In the early 1900s, EVs made up about a third of vehicles on the road, especially in European capitals, where they offered a cleaner alternative to noisy and polluting ICEVs.
However, the introduction in 1908 of the mass-produced Ford Model T in the United States and the discovery of cheap oil made ICEVs more appealing. By the 1930s, EVs had virtually disappeared. The gasoline vehicle has become king and master of the road in the United States – and everywhere else.
The Policy Push
Government support has played a crucial role in reviving attention to EVs. The EU leads globally with comprehensive regulatory frameworks: mandatory CO₂ fleet targets, the Fit for 55 package, and plans to end sales of combustion engine cars by 2035. Member states offer purchase incentives, tax advantages, and invest in charging networks. Norway, though not in the EU, exemplifies how policy can drive EV uptake – over 80% of new car sales in the country are electric.
These policies have accelerated EV adoption, but as in North America, much of the growth is in larger, more powerful models: Automakers are focusing on high-margin models, often SUVs and luxury vehicles, to fund the transition. Consumers demand range and performance, driving the trend toward larger batteries and greater resource consumption.
Battery Weight and Critical Minerals
A Ford F-150 Lightning weighs 35% more than its gasoline twin, due to its 820 kg battery. Producing batteries requires vast quantities of raw materials, and the EU is scrambling to secure supplies through its Critical Raw Materials Act, to reduce dependency on imports, especially from China.
Read our recent newsletter on Canada as a reliable transatlantic partner for critical minerals.
Energy Supply
In 2023, EVs globally consumed 130 TWh of electricity—the equivalent of Norway’s annual electricity use. While the EU's electricity mix is cleaner than the global average, with significant renewable penetration, coal, gas, and nuclear still play an important role in most member states. The EU’s REPowerEU plan aims to accelerate the shift to renewables, but gaps remain between ambition and current grid capacity.
Industry Disruption
EVs have fewer mechanical parts but more electronics. This disrupts Europe’s large auto-parts sector, concentrated in countries like Germany, where jobs linked to combustion technology are at risk. The same is true in Canada and the United States (which, with 12.3%, is the second largest auto-parts producer in the world). The EU is investing in skills retraining and industrial transition strategies to manage this shift.
A Geopolitical Issue
As the global race for EV dominance intensifies, so do geopolitical tensions. China currently dominates global battery refining and rare earth processing. This monopoly has raised alarms in the North America and Europe, prompting a flurry of policy responses.
To curb Chinese dominance in these supply chains, the Biden administration has put in place financial and fiscal incentives through programs such as the Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS and Science Act. The Trump administration’s recent approach relied more on high tariffs for Chinese imports and pressure tactics.
The EU has positioned itself as a global standard-setter with its climate targets and regulatory framework, but it remains vulnerable to external shocks in critical materials and batteries, given China's dominance.
This fragmented global landscape could hinder the pace and equity of the EV rollout.
Transatlantic Similarities
On both sides of the Atlantic, the shift to electric vehicles is accelerating. The EU and its member states have set ambitious goals to make EVs the norm by 2035, aligning with the European Green Deal and climate commitments. Canada and the United States invest heavily in EV infrastructure, manufacturing, and critical minerals supply chains, though their approaches vary. This shift shows a shared understanding of EVs as both environmentally and strategically important.
However, when considering our positions on both sides of the Atlantic, I would predict that these targets will be delayed or may simply disappear.
Rethinking Mobility
The transition as currently unfolding will not deliver the expected benefits because:
the global vehicle fleet continues to grow;
EVs mirror combustion trends: they are bigger, heavier, and more powerful;
power sources remain significantly fossil- and nuclear-based; and
resource pressures and geopolitical tensions are intensifying.
We thus need real systemic change. It can be achieved if we:
move beyond the individual car as a status symbol;
reduce the overall number of vehicles;
prioritize collective, low-impact transport modes—something where EU cities can offer models;
penalize inefficient transport; and
invest in metal recycling and circular supply chains.
Citizens must question their choices and demand alternatives. Governments must adopt systemic, long-term visions. Mobility must shift from being seen as an absolute individual right to a collective ecological, economic, and political challenge.
About the Author:
Pierre Courtemanche is a Canadian expert in supply chain and sustainability strategy with over 40 years of experience spanning forestry, international development, and business management. He is the co-founder of 360platform Inc. His expertise includes natural resource management, environmental and social impact mitigation, supply chain digitization, and corporate responsibility. Pierre has worked across more than 20 countries and lived in Cameroon, Ghana, and the UK. He now advises companies as a Sustainability and Supply Chain Strategist.