Is Elon Musk “copying” Polish ideas?

The first electric vehicles were developed nowhere else but in Poland. True, they had narrow applications and a rather limited range. Furthermore, they also had a rather hardcore advertising appeal.

Yes, I'm talking about Melex – in the times of the Polish People's Republic it was a real export hit, which is now actively sold abroad.

If Elon Musk thinks he was first, then he's wrong. is wrong. Poles were pioneers here ☺. 

Today, the market has changed somewhat. Not only Tesla, but also other traditional automakers have embraced electric cars. And we can expect that soon every major player will offer such vehicles.

Market trends indicate that demand for electric cars will continue to grow. In 2016, Polish drivers registered 556 electric or plug-in hybrid cars, representing a 65% increase compared to the previous year. Optimists predict that by 2020, electric cars will account for about 1/3 of all cars sold in developed markets*, and The total number of “green” cars on the world’s roads will probably reach 10 million.

What factors influence sales development?

These include the price of oil and the high cost of maintaining cars, which are borne by both companies and ordinary drivers. Environmental behavior is also a factor influencing demand.

In recent years, governments of developed countries have focused on reducing the amount of CO₂, including by replacing combustion engine cars with electric ones. The declared plans are very ambitious. By 2025, there should be about 1 million "green cars" on Polish roads.The governments of Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands have similar plans, introducing various restrictions on the use of combustion cars. For example, in Amsterdam, by 2025, combustion engine cars will not be allowed to enter the city center. We'll live and see. 

In our opinion, a serious challenge for producers will be customer service and showing advantages such cars compared to combustion cars, but also hybrids. Therefore, when selling electric cars, one of the key factors will be argumentation and competence of the advisor.

And what will the customer ask about? Price, of course, but also basic technical information. (including where and how to charge the battery, how long it takes to fully charge, what is the warranty period for the battery, where the car can be repaired, etc.)Despite the higher purchase price, the operating costs of such a car are significantly lower compared to a combustion engine. But this must be explained to the customer, or they will leave the dealership intimidated by the high price.

We examined how and what advisors are telling customers about electric cars at car dealerships in Warsaw today. We'll share the results soon.

* According to a report by the consulting firm Deloitte, 2015