Nov. 5, 2021, LAS VEGAS—Electric cars and their future need to be respected, says Ben Johnson, director of product management, Mitchell 1.
But that future isn't scary and remains bright for the automotive aftermarket because the combustion engine isn't going anywhere fast, he said during an education session at Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) on Tuesday in Las Vegas.
Johnson noted that even though 2.3% of vehicles sold in 2020 were fully electric and 12% were electrified in some way, more than 98% of vehicles on the road today have combustion engines.
More numbers describe Johnson's reasoning for patience and calm.
Yes, 70 electric vehicle models are expected to hit the market by 2027. But even by using the high end of projections about electric cars, 92% of vehicles on the road in 2030 would be gas-powered.
Johnson also pointed out that these electric cars are complicated machines and will need service and parts.
"People say these vehicles are so simple we are going out of business. That's just not true," he says. "There is still a lot of complexity. A lot of technology is coming our way.
"We are in business to solve problems for (all) cars on the road."
