Luxury sector also opts for electric
Named after the Serbian physicist and engineer, Nikola Tesla, who invented an induction motor that ran on alternating current in the 1880s, the range of electric cars produced by the Californian company of the same name are the most coveted on the market. Considered electric 'ferraris', the company brought out its first model, the Roadster, in 2006. However, it truly arrived on the scene with the success of its Tesla Model S, which led it to mass-produce electric vehicles and the begining of exports around the world. With a starting price of 85,000 euros, the Model S has characteristics of a conventional sports car in the 250,000-euro price range, says Borja Cabrera, owner of Barcelona Green Electric Cars and a specialist in luxury electric vehicles.
With a range of 380 kilometres, the Model S is considered one of the safest vehicles in the world and yet can go from 0 to 100km/h in just 2.8 seconds.
“Wealthy people have taken the change of paradigm in transport on board,” says Cabrera. “They will be the first to buy these types of vehicles because they have more margin to take risks, after that society will follow,” he adds.
According to Cabrera, in July in a convention in Terrassa, the luxury electric vehicle sector predicted growth of 18%, “but in a matter of weeks after the dieselgate scandal, the forecasts rose to 30%,” he says.
For Cabrera, the luxury electric vehicle market will grow between 20 and 30% in the next few years: “There is increasingly more social and environmental awareness and the option of luxury electric cars brings those who buy them savings, but also a certain image,” he says.
“Exclusivity, autonomy, guarantees and design, at an affordable price,” says Cabrera, as long as you consider 85,000 euros affordable, that is.
Out of reach of most pockets
They say there are more eccentric rich people than poor people, but when money is no object it is easier to take on risks and indulge oneself. The luxury car market is also turning to electric power, largely thanks to the success of the only top-end electric car manufacturer, Tesla. BMW now has two hybrid models, the BMW i8 Hybrid (150,000 euros) and the i3 (40,000), while Bentley, Aston Martin and Porsche are all developing their own projects with a view to bringing electric versions out in 2017 or 2018.