Speaking of consumerism… Americans bought a record 9.7 million gas-guzzling SUVs and trucks this past year. The high sales have continued into this year, so it may be surprising for motorists to hear that when they go to replace their current vehicles in a few years, they’ll probably drive away in electrified SUVs and trucks. Not because they want to or because automakers want to make them but because Americans love their big cars so much, they’ll have no choice but to go electric, experts say. In the coming years, mileage regulations are set to tighten significantly—more than doubling from today, to 54.5 miles a gallon in 2025. Carmakers are struggling to figure how they’ll get there, leaving them with one option: go electric. Elon Musk has already proven it’s possible to make large, electric vehicles with the crossover Model X and Mitsubishi is set to sell its plug-in electric SUV in the U.S. this summer. Musk has said he’ll likely build an electric pickup truck as well, which could very well set of a wave of rival electric trucks as is happening with the range of electric sedans come into the market this year.
Americans may think they’ll never buy an electric SUV—but they will
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