CLIMATE ONE: The Little EVs That Could Displace Big Oil

While most Americans think of a truck or a sedan when they hear “electric vehicle,” a quiet revolution is happening in other countries on two and three wheels. In China and India, the electric vehicles doing the most to push out oil aren't cars – they're scooters, mopeds, motorcycles and the three-wheeled rickshaws and tuk-tuks that move people and packages through some of the world's busiest cities.

According to BloombergNEF’s EV Outlook report, 46% of global sales of two- and three-wheelers were electric last year. Collectively, they’re ⁠displacing more oil⁠ than cars. Electric delivery vehicles are also starting to show up in bigger U.S. cities. How might even greater adoption of “other” EV types benefit decarbonization? 

Guests:

Aleksandra O'Donovan, Head of Electrified Transport, BloombergNEF 

Samhita Shiledar, Principal, RMI

David Zipper, Contributing Writer, Bloomberg; Co-host, Look Both Ways

Highlights:

00:00 Introduction

02:37 Aleksandra O'Donovan on the BNEF 2026 EV Outlook

03:54 Aleksandra O'Donovan on adoption of electric two and three wheelers

08:40 Aleksandra O'Donovan on oil displacement from two and three wheelers 

13:23 Aleksandra O'Donovan on what electric vehicle adoption means for emissions