Climate One
Climate One
Climate One from The Commonwealth Club
The Little EVs That Could Displace Big Oil
58 minutes Posted Sep 4, 2026 at 7:15 am.
Introduction
Aleksandra O'Donovan on the BNEF 2026 EV Outlook
Aleksandra O'Donovan on adoption of electric two and three wheelers
Aleksandra O'Donovan on oil displacement from two and three wheelers 
Aleksandra O'Donovan on what electric vehicle adoption means for emissions
Samhita Shiledar on the difference between US and Indian transportation
Samhita Shiledar on the reality of switching to electric vehicles for drivers
Samhita Shiledar on how the transition to EVs affects riders and consumers
Samhita Shiledar on the future of electric two and three wheelers
David Zipper on “car bloat” 
David Zipper on what e-bike adoption rates in the US say about demand
David Zipper on golf cart adoption
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Show notes
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:
For show notes, transcripts and related links, visit our episode page at ClimateOne.org
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