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Electric vehicles: Charging up or powering down?

The EV industry is sending mixed signals - what鈥檚 going on?

The electric car industry is sending mixed signals. On one hand, sales of electric vehicles in Europe overtook diesel vehicles for the first time last year and annual sales of electric vehicles in China now make up 30% of total car sales in the country.

On the other hand, Elon Musk鈥檚 company Tesla and Chinese manufacturer BYD, two of the biggest electric vehicle makers, have both reported significant drops in sales this year. Plus, industry heavyweights General Motors, Nissan, Hyundai, Volkswagen and Ford have all revealed that as a result of a loss in momentum for electric cars, they are increasing their investment in hybrid vehicles, which partly use fossil fuels like petrol or diesel that harm the environment.

Confused? 成人快手 business correspondent Erin Delmore explains what exactly is going on.

Plus, we take a closer look at how the electric vehicle industry is doing in Africa - and why the future is all about e-motorbikes instead of cars. Prosper, a 24 year old courier in Uganda tells us why she likes using an electric motorbike to get around.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6
Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
Presenter: Daniel Dadzie
Producers: Josh Jenkins and Adam Chowdhury
Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

Available now

14 minutes

Last on

Fri 17 May 2024 02:50GMT

Broadcasts

  • Thu 16 May 2024 17:50GMT
  • Fri 17 May 2024 02:50GMT

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