There are already more than one million electric and hybrid vehicles on Europe's roads, and electric vehicle sales in the EU increased by almost 40% in 2017. In wealthy countries like Norway, 45% of all new car sales in September 2018 were electric; while in France, the UK, the Netherlands, and elsewhere, diesel engines will be banned by 2040. Other major drivers of the shift to hybrid and fully electric vehicles include proposals from the EU Commission to reduce CO2 emissions by 2030. Many cities have banned or will soon ban the use of diesel and other polluting gasoline engines. And while cars grab the headlines, the impact on commercial or industrial vehicles is also significant. Sales of electric vans under 3.5 tons are growing at 23.1%, with new players like StreetScooter producing as many electric vehicles as the European market leader, Renault. Small electric vans can achieve a range of over 300 km on a single charge and are very cost-effective due to low charging costs. Sales of hybrid and electric buses are expected to quadruple by 2022, reaching a 20% market share. Heavy-duty, long-haul trucks are expected to appear in 2025.
In most electric vehicles, there are five significant components that replace a traditional vehicle's powertrain: electric motor; battery pack; inverter; on-board charger; and DC/DC converter. TTI's key franchises, including Amphenol, Aptiv, TE Connectivity, TDK, Vishay, Murata, ITT Cannon, and JAE, address these applications with a broad portfolio of approved automotive components, as detailed in the new guidance. Dermot Byrne, European Marketing Director - Transport at TTI, Inc., commented: "While electric cars are likely to account for 25% of sales across Europe by 2025, and reach 50% by 2030, it is inevitable that diesel and petrol cars will eventually reach the end of their lifespan. With commercial and industrial vehicles, the trend is even faster: in Shenzhen, for example, they have replaced their fleet of 16,000 diesel buses with electric vehicles. Europe is lagging behind, but we are getting there.".
