Swedish businessman and billionaire Mats Qviberg sees major limitations in electric cars. So he is looking towards gasoline and diesel.
Gasoline is still a reality and a necessity for many drivers. The same can be said for diesel cars. In any case, cars and their fuel are here to stay.
This is the opinion of Mats Qviberg, chairman of the board of the Swedish car dealership giant Bilia.
He is not afraid to express his opinion on electric cars. At the same time, he calls for a more balanced presentation of the real potential of electric cars, especially when it comes to driving over longer distances.
He acknowledges that electric cars are a good choice for those who live in urban areas and drive shorter trips. Here, charging options are often good. Qviberg points out, however, that electric cars are not an optimal solution for everyone.
He believes that the electric car, especially when driving long distances, is affected by its own limitations.
In an opinion piece in Dagens Industri, the billionaire describes the challenges of using electric cars on long trips or in sparsely populated areas. Here, charging options can be limited, and the range of the cars can be a huge challenge.
Qviberg has also noticed that even organizations promoting electric cars have started to issue advice on how to deal with the challenges that can arise on longer trips, which he sees as a sign that the technology has not matured.
Although Bilia is one of the largest electric car dealers in Sweden, Qviberg does not believe that they will ever replace all petrol and diesel cars. He believes that there is a need for both types of cars.
He emphasizes that gasoline and diesel will continue to be part of the future, but that electric cars will also gain ground as technology develops.
However, it is important not to present electric cars as a universal solution for all transportation needs, it says. That is why Qviberg also points to the nuanced debate.
This is not the first time that Qviberg has criticized the rapid transition to electric cars. He has previously warned drivers and the automotive industry in general against blindly looking to electric cars as the only solution.
Mats Qviberg previously spoke out on the subject in December, criticizing drivers and the automotive industry for having too one-sided a focus on electric cars. Read more about it here .
