That's when I test drove the all-electric Volkswagen ID. Buzz, my first thought was that he looked like he was grinning too much. However, once I entered the store, I realized what this smug mug meant.
The Buzz is America's first all-electric minivan, marking a leap into luxury compared to its iconic 1960s predecessor, the VW Bus. It seats up to seven people with plenty of legroom, has more interior cargo space than the Suburban, and features an expansive electrochromic sunroof that becomes opaque at the touch of a button. Thanks to the battery's low center of gravity, Buzz lights up easily. A few days after my test drive, Volkswagen's electric minivan won the 2025 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year award at the Detroit Auto Show.
I'm not here to sell you a minivan. But I think we're witnessing a tipping point for EVs. It could change the way we think about an electrified future.
December was a record month for EV sales around the world, and the number of EVs sold in the United States last year reached a record high of 1.3 million. Some industry analysts expect this number to rise further in 2025, when there will be even more options for electric vehicles at the lowest prices ever. And thanks to some simple changes to plug standards, this year should also see progress in building out the nation's charging infrastructure, thanks to an influx of funding from the Biden administration. The Biden administration has been historically terrible, but things are slowly starting to get better. The incoming Trump administration is poised to eliminate some tax breaks for EV buyers, but industry experts say the industry's momentum is unstoppable.
At the same time, growth in EV sales is slowing. Yes, the industry continues to break records, but they are being broken by small margins. Tesla, which makes the top two best-selling EVs in the country and is the world's largest EV maker, actually saw its market share decline for the first time in 2024. This isn't all that surprising. With the exception of the bold new Cybertruck, Tesla is breaking with tradition and introducing all-new bodies, including traditional automakers like Volkswagen and GM and new entrants like Rivian and Polestar. Regardless, they've been selling the same four EV models for years. These types include VW minivans and Rivian off-road vehicles.
The price of EVs is also coming down. Chevrolet just started selling the Equinox, an all-electric SUV that sells for less than $35,000. (Chevrolet's gasoline-powered Equinox starts at $28,600.) Chinese automaker BYD is also exploding in popularity thanks to its ultra-affordable electric vehicles, which are currently not available in the United States.
“People will see cars coming onto the market that fit exactly what they want,” Volkswagen's Mark Gillies said after the test drive. “So I think the more options we have, the more variety we have in vehicles, the more we'll see the acceptance of EVs.”
EV was once synonymous with Tesla, but now almost every automaker offers an electric vehicle. Most models can travel 200 to 300 miles on a single charge, which is more than enough for the average American's daily driving needs. If you have a garage or parking lot with access to a power outlet, charging on the go is not an issue as you can leave the vehicle plugged in overnight and expect the battery to last until the next day. .
Still, the state of charging infrastructure remains a major issue for many Americans considering purchasing an EV. Historically plagued by reliability issues, confused by automakers' use of different types of plugs, and less convenient than the century-old U.S. gas station network. Road tripping in an EV remains a frightening challenge for many people who suffer from range anxiety, or the fear that their EV's battery will run out and leave them stranded.
“It's not so much range anxiety as it is infrastructure anxiety,” says Nicole Wakelin, editor-in-chief of CarBuzz and judge for the North American, Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle of the Year awards. “The average person's daily driving can easily be covered by charging at home at night. There's no need to look for a charger when you're out and about.” there is no”.
But some good things are happening on the infrastructure front this year – if some new developments can manage to survive the changing political climate. The Biden administration recently announced a $600 million grant to continue construction of EV charging stations and renewable fueling stations, moving us closer to the goal of installing 500,000 publicly available charging stations by 2030. Announced $35 million in grants. EV plugs are now becoming standard at most major automakers. has signed on to adopt the North American Charging Standard (NACS) in 2025. This is what Tesla is using, with nearly all EVs connecting to the Supercharger network. Convenience will continue to improve significantly this year as the new 'Universal Plug and Charge' standard is introduced. That means no more fumbling with apps or credit cards at charging stations. As the name of the standard suggests, just plug it in and charge it.
While these investments and updates are moving us in the right direction, there is an urgent need to replace gasoline-powered vehicles with cleaner EVs. As oil and gas production continues to rise, global average temperatures rose by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius for the first time last year. Los Angeles is on fire.
Electrification of transportation can have an immediate impact on climate change. The transportation sector accounts for about 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions and is the largest emitter in the United States, so electrifying all vehicles would bring us one step closer to net zero. Initiatives are also accelerating. According to the International Energy Agency, EVs accounted for 4% of all passenger cars worldwide in 2020, but that share will increase to 18% by early 2024. And 2024 itself was a record year, with global EV sales increasing by 25%.
Much of this growth is happening in China, where BYD has overtaken Tesla as the most popular EV maker. BYD sells the small but high-performance Seagull EV in China for the equivalent of $10,000, and is also popular in Mexico, but it may face EV import tariffs imposed by the Biden administration and additional tariffs from the United States. Due to its nature, there are no plans to enter the US market. Trump administration. Meanwhile, the cheapest new EVs available in the U.S. start at about $30,000 before state and federal taxes. As some simple math shows, this equates to about 3 BYD Seagulls for every cheap EV in the US.
So it's no surprise that the U.S. lags behind the rest of the world when it comes to EV adoption. Cox Automotive predicts that EVs will account for 10% of new cars by 2025, up from about 7.5% last year. Infrastructural concerns explain some of the slow uptake, but historically affordability has been an issue as well. According to a report from Bank of America Global Research, only 3% of EVs cost less than $37,000, which explains why more Americans are choosing cheaper hybrid options. It might happen. According to a March 2024 Gallup poll, while the number of EV owners is increasing in the United States, the number of Americans saying they are considering purchasing an EV is decreasing. Republicans controlled this group of opponents by a wide margin, as did those who were not concerned about climate change.
The new Trump administration is generally cautious about what to do with EVs, but the outlook is not good. President Trump says he will fire them [Biden’s] The vague campaign promise of “mandating electric vehicles” is thought by many to mean eliminating the $7,500 federal tax credit for EV purchases. This may seem counterintuitive since its biggest supporter, Elon Musk, owns Tesla, but Musk says eliminating the tax credit would actually help his EV company. states. Other incentive programs will still exist, like New York's statewide program, but the end of federal rebates is sure to discourage some potential EV buyers.
“Certainly the government incentives are helping,” said Mark Schirmer of Cox Automotive. “If they are reduced or eliminated, sales may slow down a bit, but it won't stop EV sales.”
It's unclear whether and how President Trump will follow through on his campaign promises, much less those aimed at the U.S. auto industry. In recent months, President-elect Trump's press secretary, Caroline Levitt, has told multiple news outlets that the president-elect will not only keep his promise to “stop attacks on gasoline-powered vehicles,” but will also “support the auto industry and It gives space to both cars and motor vehicles.” Motorized and electric vehicles. ” Given the number of prominent members of Congress who have EV factories that create jobs in their local districts, you can see why the Trump administration is putting everything on hold for now.
I was sitting behind the wheel of my Volkswagen ID. Recent stories got me thinking about another turning point in automotive history. When Chrysler invented the minivan in the early 1980s, it showed that it was possible to move a lot of people in an easy-to-handle vehicle while still getting good fuel economy. This completely transformed the auto industry and paved the way for the takeover of gas-guzzling SUVs in the 1990s and 2000s. For better or worse, this minivan has led us into the future we're living in. And perhaps today, it could lead us to a future where major cities don't catch fire.
I'm not talking about the Volkswagen ID. Buzz is revolutionizing the EV industry. It's not cheap at $60,000, but it's the only electric minivan you can buy right now. Volkswagen is also already testing self-driving versions and plans to launch a robotaxi service as early as 2026. The idea is that you can board a comfortable minivan with a luxurious sunroof and be safely dropped off at your destination without any human interaction or intervention. A drop of gasoline sounds like the future I'd like to live in.
For EVs to maintain their momentum through changes in policy and consumer sentiment, Americans must believe in the future that EVs are taking us to. In 2025, we'll know more about what that will look like. In the meantime, if you're an ambitious soccer dad with a passion for sustainable transportation, why not take a test drive of the new electric minivan? It really costs every penny.
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