Polestar, the Swedish electric performance car manufacturer, has presented new research findings that reveal strong consumer demand for legislation towards a faster transition to electric vehicles (EVs).
The global study involved 18,000 participants in 19 markets across North America, Asia Pacific and Europe. It reveals that 34 percent of consumers are in favour of a ban on internal combustion engine (ICE) cars by 2030, a number that rises to 47 percent in a 2035 scenario.
The new study also finds that three-quarters of those surveyed believe society needs to consume differently to preserve the climate and the environment for future generations.
In tandem, to coincide with Climate Week NYC and European Mobility Week, Polestar follows up on its Set in Stone film (see below), launched during COP26. A new campaign shows how the lack of climate action from the car industry turned what was supposed to be a historical document of promises into a historical document of silence.
Hopefully, this will provide a stark reminder to all the countries and brands that announced they would do more at COP26. The transition to electric vehicles is vital to reducing greenhouse gases and the future of our planet.
Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO, said: “As climate leaders meet this week in New York City, and with COP27 around the corner, it is clear there is climate meeting fatigue. But companies and consumers can become the antidote to that.
“While we don’t write the policies, we have the power to act now and drive real change. We have a responsibility, and it is up to us to send a signal and show we’re ready.”
In June 2022, the European Council of Environmental Ministers agreed that by 2035, new cars placed on the EU’s market must be zero-emission vehicles. Similarly, at COP26 in 2021, a small number of automakers joined the ‘Glasgow Declaration on Zero Emission Cars and Vans’ – a commitment to phase out fossil fuel vehicles between 2035 and 2040.
Ingenlath added: “With just 1.5 percent of the vehicles on the road being electric today, it is clear we are living in an EV bubble, not an EV boom. This decade is the most critical we have ever faced when it comes to not overshooting the Paris agreement.
“We need governments to lead the charge with robust policies, both on infrastructure and addressing electricity prices so that drivers can confidently go electric, but more importantly, car makers must act now and not wait for policy changes.”
Ranking of countries in favour of 2030 or earlier ban on ICE vehicles:
- 1. South Korea (48)
- 2. UK (44)
- 3. Singapore (42)
- 4. Germany (37)
- 5. Netherlands (36)
- 6. Denmark (36)
- 7. Luxembourg (35)
- 8. China (35)
- 9. Australia (34)
- 10. US (33)
- 11.Sweden (32)
- 12. Switzerland (32)
- 13. Canada (32)
- 14. Austria (31)
- 15. Iceland (29)
- 16. Belgium (29)
- 17. New Zealand (28)
- 18. Norway (27)
- 19. Finland (20)
Polestar recently announced it is accelerating its work to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by welcoming 12 new partners to the Polestar 0 project. These companies are committed to collaborating on the company’s moon-shot goal to produce a truly climate-neutral electric car by 2030 without offsetting.
