The Global Rise of the Modern Plug-In Electric Vehicle

Public Policy, Innovation and Strategy

John D. Graham, Professor of Risk and Policy Analysis, O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, US and formerly “regulatory czar” in the George W. Bush White House

We may be standing on the precipice of a revolution in propulsion not seen since the internal combustion engine replaced the horse and buggy. The anticipated proliferation of electric cars will influence the daily lives of motorists, the economies of different countries and regions, urban air quality and global climate change. If you want to understand how quickly the transition is likely to occur, and the factors that will influence the predictions of the pace of the transition, this book will be an illuminating read.

‘Plug-in vehicles have great promise, but there are numerous factors influencing the pace and extent of the transition around the world. Dr Graham cuts through the conflicting claims and offers a refreshingly objective account of how technology, policies and consumer preferences influence the history and future of this nascent global industry.’
– John German, Principal, JG Consulting LLC and decades of experience at Chrysler, Honda, EPA and the International Council on Clean Transportation

‘In contrast to the simple idea that “if you build it they will come,” Prof. John Graham's comprehensive analysis of vehicles propelled by electric motors tells a richly complex and nuanced story. Graham details how battery and hydrogen technologies, vehicle performance, supply chains, and the development of fueling and charging infrastructures, has interacted with concerns about air quality, climate policy, industrial policy, trade policy, energy security and the ups and downs of the economy – playing out very differently in the U.S., Europe, China and Japan. This comprehensive exploration will be must reading for all who care about the past and likely future evolution of the automobile.’
– Professor M. Granger Morgan, Carnegie Mellon University, US and former chair of the EPA Science Advisory Board