Frankfurt with an ‘E’

Early September's Frankfurt Motor Show was all about production-ready or near-production electric vehicles (EVs), as Europe's propulsion transformation gains momentum. With European Union-wide carbon-dioxide (CO₂) emissions regulations closing in and societal pressure on the auto sector's contribution to climate change and sustainability, Europe's automakers-particularly those in Germany - are hastening their EV development timelines.

Whether there will be a market for the vehicles environmentally-concerned customers (and regulators) claim are necessary is another matter. Porsche's formidable Taycan will start at $150,000 when it hits U.S. showrooms next year. The sublime Honda 3 city car, not coming to the U.S., has limited utility beyond city-car use but will cost nearly 30,000 euros. Such is the same for Volkswagen's larger ID.3.