While most Americans think of a truck or a sedan when they hear “electric vehicle,” a quiet revolution is happening in other countries on two and three wheels. In China and India, the electric vehicles doing the most to push out oil aren't cars – they're scooters, mopeds, motorcycles and the three-wheeled rickshaws and tuk-tuks that move people and packages through some of the world's busiest cities.
According to BloombergNEF’s EV Outlook report, 46% of global sales of two- and three-wheelers were electric last year. Collectively, they’re displacing more oil than cars. Electric delivery vehicles are also starting to show up in bigger U.S. cities. How might even greater adoption of “other” EV types benefit decarbonization?
Guests:
Aleksandra O'Donovan, Head of Electrified Transport, BloombergNEF
Samhita Shiledar, Principal, RMI
David Zipper, Contributing Writer, Bloomberg; Co-host, Look Both Ways
Highlights:
00:00 Introduction
02:37 Aleksandra O'Donovan on the BNEF 2026 EV Outlook
03:54 Aleksandra O'Donovan on adoption of electric two and three wheelers
08:40 Aleksandra O'Donovan on oil displacement from two and three wheelers
13:23 Aleksandra O'Donovan on what electric vehicle adoption means for emissions
18:36 Samhita Shiledar on the difference between US and Indian transportation
20:47 Samhita Shiledar on the reality of switching to electric vehicles for drivers
26:25 Samhita Shiledar on how the transition to EVs affects riders and consumers
33:04 Samhita Shiledar on the future of electric two and three wheelers
35:50 David Zipper on “car bloat”
41:37 David Zipper on what e-bike adoption rates in the US say about demand
47:47 David Zipper on golf cart adoption
For show notes, transcripts and related links, visit our episode page at ClimateOne.org
***
Join Climate One for a town hall event on September 28 at 6 p.m. on navigating AI, climate, and the future of democracy. How do we ensure that AI and data centers serve the public good? How does a democracy function when AI is distorting our sense of shared truths? Tickets available at climateone.org/events
***
Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today.
***
Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
