Electric vehicles were supposed to be the future.
Yet, the road to their widespread adoption has been bumpy, with cost concerns, hesitant consumers, and wavering industry strategies.
While some automakers bet big on EVs, others remain stuck in transition, favoring hybrids as a middle ground.
But according to Andy Palmer, the former COO of Nissan, that’s a major mistake.
Lost Momentum
Palmer, who earned his nickname "the godfather of electric vehicles" for leading the development of the Nissan Leaf, says hybrids aren’t the solution.
Instead, they’re a “path to nowhere.”
In a recent interview, he warned that manufacturers relying on hybrids are wasting time and resources, according to Digi24.
They risk falling further behind companies like China’s BYD, which has mastered EV production.
In the early 2010s, Palmer helped launch the Nissan Leaf, the world’s first mass-market electric car.
Its success showed EVs weren’t just a dream. Now, over a decade later, he believes the industry is at a critical juncture.
"If you dilute the transition to EVs with hybrids," Palmer said, "you remain uncompetitive for longer and allow China to extend its lead."
China didn’t dominate by accident. Since 2009, the government has invested over $230 billion to make the country a leader in EVs.
Today, their cars are high-tech, affordable, and globally competitive.
"Chinese cars are incredibly well-made, with cutting-edge battery technology," Palmer noted.
By comparison, Japan’s automakers are struggling. Toyota’s focus on hybrids initially paid off, but now it faces declining sales in China.
Nissan, once a leader in EVs, has lost momentum. Palmer believes Japan’s automakers have "backed themselves into a corner."
In the U.S. and Europe, EV adoption is slower than hoped. High costs remain a barrier. Palmer says prices must fall to compete with gasoline cars. This, he argues, requires smaller batteries and better charging networks.
Palmer urges the West to learn from China’s aggressive strategy.
“Copying their industrial approach is the only way to catch up,” he said.
Without action, Western automakers may soon find themselves permanently outpaced. For the EV race, the time to commit is now.