Industry Insiders Not Expecting EVs to Succeed

In a survey of 200 automotive executives, just 16 of them (8%) said that they would invest in pure electric vehicles in the next five years. The survey was conducted by accounting firm KPMG. The respondents said that it will be six to 10 years before EVs are mainstream options. The same survey was done last year, and the respondents believed that it would take one to six years for EVs to become mainstream. 

The examples of the failures of EVs, especially in Europe, are manifold. Nissan had hoped to sell 9,000 Leafs in Europe in 2012; it sold 5,341 cars. There were 15,272 EVs sold in the EU in 2012. 

The failure of EVs in Europe is not without trying to make them succeed. Most European governments offer incentives on EVs. For instance, there is a £5,000 government incentive. However, that is not enough to make EVs competitive against cars in the same class. In the UK, the LeafNissan LEAFJapan, 2009 > present29 versions
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starts at £23,490 after government incentives, but buyers could get a Nissan QashqaiNissan QashqaiJapan, 2006 > 2014305 versions
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for £16,595.

The lack of sales has caused automakers to stop plans to build EV models. OpelOpelGermany, 1863 > present85 models
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canceled production of the AdamOpel ADAM Gen.1Germany, 2012 > present25 versions
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EV; ToyotaToyotaJapan, 1937 > present155 models
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will not sell the iQ EVToyota iQ EVJapan, 2012 > present4 photos
in Europe; the Fiat 500eFiat 500eItaly, 2013 > present2 photos
will also not be sold in Europe; and AudiAudiGermany, 1909 > present83 models
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has slowed down on plans to build the R8 E-tronOpel Insignia 2.0 Turbo D...Germany, 2010 > present1 photo
. 

The lack of electric car infrastructure that can charge EVs quickly is also partially to blame for the failure of EVs.

Respondents in the KPMG indicated that the future will be in smaller engines and hybrids. Audi plans to bring a plug-in hybrid version of the A3Audi A3 Gen.3 [Typ 8V]Germany, 2012 > present275 versions
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in 2014, and BMWBMWGermany, 1918 > present87 models
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has been walking back from its i3BMW i3Germany, 2011 > present26 photos
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EV by promoting the car's availability with a two-cylinder range extending engine.

Source: Automotive News Europe