global market

Not long ago, electric cars were a rarity. Ten years ago, annual global sales of EVs were only a few hundred thousand. As of today, globally, still less than one percent of all the cars on the road are electric. But that is changing rapidly.

In fact, electric vehicles are expected to capture nearly 20% of the global market this year. Global sales of EVs were 3 million in 2020 and 6.6 million in 2021. Last year, sales of electric vehicles hit 10 million and are expected to reach 14 million this year according to the International Energy Agency.

Analysts at the IEA have had to repeatedly revise their projections for future EV sales as the numbers keep going up faster than predicted. Last year, they projected that EVs would account for 21% of global sales by 2030. Now, they expect that EVs will reach 35% of sales by that year.

In the US, the EU, and China, policy efforts are in place to boost EV sales. In the US, the Inflation Reduction Act both supports the EV industry and subsidizes consumer purchases with tax credits. As a result of such policies, the IEA expects electric vehicles to account for 60% of sales across these three large markets by 2030.

Part of what is driving the boom in EV sales is that prices continue to come down for the vehicles. When operating and maintenance costs are figured in, the EVs come out considerably cheaper to own. In addition, there are starting to be price wars in the EV industry as competition heats up in the sector.

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EVs to Capture One-Fifth of Global Market This Year Amid ‘Explosive Growth’

Photo, posted May 7, 2022, courtesy of Sharon Hahn Darlin via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

The global coffee market is valued at over $450 billion a year and supports the economies of several tropical countries. About 100 million farmers depend upon coffee for their livelihoods.

Coffee bushes grow best in a narrow range of temperatures. The existing coffee market is dominated by two species Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora, the latter commonly called robusta. Arabica, the most preferred coffee, thrives in average temperatures between 64 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Robusta does not flourish above 75 degrees. Therefore, the warming climate is making growing coffee increasingly difficult.

There are actually well over 100 species of coffee. Many of them grow in warmer places than those preferred by robusta and arabica, but are considered to have poorer flavors, smaller beans, and lower yields.

Researchers at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Britain came across a paper written in 1834 about a species of coffee from the lowland hills of Sierra Leone called Coffea stenophylla. According to the paper, stenophylla supposedly has a flavor superior to arabica’s.

It turns out that stenophylla still grows in parts of Africa with temperature ranges between 75 and 80 degrees. It was actually farmed until the 1920s but was abandoned because robusta was found to have higher yields.

Extensive taste testing verified the positive attributes of stenophylla. Whether it should be cultivated directly tolerating potential yield issues or crossbred with existing commercial coffees remains to be determined. But the prospects for finding more heat tolerant coffees should be encouraging news for coffee addicts.

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How to save coffee from global warming

Photo, posted October 30, 2012, courtesy of Coffee Management Service via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

Explosive Growth Of Electric Vehicles | Earth Wise

Not long ago, electric cars were a rarity. Ten years ago, annual global sales of EVs were only a few hundred thousand. As of today, globally, still less than one percent of all the cars on the road are electric. But that is changing rapidly.

Web Links

Saving Coffee From Global Warming | Earth Wise

The global coffee market is valued at over $450 billion a year and supports the economies of several tropical countries. About 100 million farmers depend upon coffee for their livelihoods.

Web Links