The Hill’s EV Summit addressed many of the recent policy changes in the electric vehicle (EV) and autonomous vehicle (AV) markets, and where they might be heading in the future.
Among the guest speakers was Washington state representative Rick Larsen, who also serves as co-chair of the U.S.- China Working Group. Rep. Larsen talked about the exponential growth of EV sales, noting that 30,000 EVs were sold in 2020, 66,000 in 2021, and over 100,000 in 2022.
With this kind of growth, he argued, the U.S. needs to prioritize friendly, safe options for mining the materials needed to produce EVs. Along with that comes a need for clarity on how to fill demand. He also pointed out that in many ways, EVs and AVs are an equity issue: Tax incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act are helping to make them more affordable, but the market still needs to grow at a rate in which there are options at all income levels.
Guest speakers echoed Rep. Larsen’s comments, adding that used EVs need a market as well since they represent a significant portion of affordable options, and have a disproportionately positive effect on air quality and access.
Finally, AVs were also looked at in an economy that is increasingly facing supply chain issues. Raquel Urtasun, CEO of AV startup Waabi, said that their company was able to do most of their development in simulators, making R&D much more cost effective and safer. Furthermore, they’ve focused on the trucking industry because of its influence on the supply chain. Their hope is that by implementing AV tech into freight transportation, they’ll be able to help global trade and enhance job opportunities.