While the electric car is still heralded as the future of mobility, warning signs are multiplying across Europe. Between massive recalls, plant closures and doubts about economic and ecological viability, one worrying conclusion is emerging: electric cars could well be a costly illusion.
The latest episode: Renault has announced the recall of 16,000 units of its Renault 5 electric vehicle due to starting problems. At the same time, NOR Volt, supposed to be a European pillar of battery production, has filed for bankruptcy with debts of over 7.3 billion euros. All in all, almost 150,000 jobs have been lost in the European automotive sector in the space of two years.
Recharging time: a major obstacle
Behind these industrial stories lies a deeper reality: the technical, economic and ecological limits of electric vehicles. According to many observers, battery technology, which is stagnating, remains cumbersome, costly and unsustainable. The actual range of electric vehicles is still less than manufacturers promise, especially in real driving conditions or in cold weather. As for recharging times, they remain a major obstacle for the average user.
The public recharging network is also singled out for criticism: faulty charging points, incompatible standards between brands, technological fragmentation… All of which makes the use of electric vehicles restrictive, even elitist, as it is inaccessible to those living in apartments without a garage.
Too many inconveniences
Added to this is the hidden cost: between accelerated tire wear, more expensive insurance, costly battery replacement, and complex resale at a record discount, electric cars seem to be reserved for a very specific clientele.
The ecological balance sheet is also contested. Between the destructive extraction of rare earths, electricity that is sometimes carbon-based, and battery recycling that is still in its infancy, electric cars are accused of displacing pollution rather than eliminating it.
Faced with these challenges, several European governments, including Germany, France and Italy, are quietly reviewing their ambitions. Some automakers are now investing heavily in carbon-neutral synthetic fuels or in the optimization of combustion engines, which are considered more realistic in the short term.
Europe lags behind China
Finally, there is a major strategic concern: China’s total domination of the electrical value chain. Batteries, materials, electronic components: Europe is discovering itself dependent and vulnerable to Beijing.
So the question is openly asked: is electric power a revolution or a passing fad? Some are quick to compare the current situation to the diesel scandal of the 2000s, arguing that electric cars could in turn become the greatest industrial disillusion of the 21st century.
It’s a stark observation that raises questions about the future of a European automotive industry in the throes of change, between technological promise and economic reality.