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Anonymous A
on Nov 03, 2023
Global
I want to receive updates regarding this question via email.

Market sizing - number of EVs

Market size on number of EVs is quite a typical case already, but just realize a blindspot I have. 

How do we approach the case for two segments, people who don't have the cars, and people who already have diesel cars? 

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Ian
Coach
on Nov 04, 2023
Top US BCG / MBB Coach - 5,000 sessions |Tech, Platinion, Big 4 | 9/9 personal interviews passed | 95% candidate success

Hi there,

Two Approaches:

Approach 1: Take a % of the end number of people who own cars total, and say that percent drive EV (can use real numbers that you know…which you should know because you're doing daily reading!)

Approach 2: For each of your population segments say what % would have an EV vs. Diesel.

Here's an example with EV charging stations in a city (Saigon/Ho Chi Minh)…similar approach:

By # of Electric Cars

  1. Population of Ho Chi Minh - Around 8 million?
  2. # of adults - Around 5-6 million
  3. # of cars per person - around .5 (probably 1 per household)
  4. % of electric vehicles expected in 10 years -
    1. highly variable based on country.
    2. While Vietnam is a developing country (points against), they are also command-and-control communist and are capable of big change (points for).
    3. The global rate of EV uptake will probably equate to 1% of the global fleet each year (obviously less now, more later). So, perhaps 10% globally? Let's place vietnam around there
  5. ​Big consideration: Charging stations are a leading investment to electric cars. So, you need capacity there before demand hits. We will probably need around 1 charging station per vehicle (docking at night). And this would need to lead by a few years. So, we might need charging stations for 15% of the Vietnamese car fleet (instead of 10%)
  6. Answer = 375,000 - 450,000 charging stations:
    1. (5 - 6 million people) X (.5 cars per person) X (15%)
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Raj
Coach
on Nov 06, 2023
FREE 15MIN CONSULTATION | #1 Strategy& / OW coach | >70 5* reviews |90% offers ⇨ prep-success.super.site | MENA, DE, UK

When approaching a market sizing case for two segments, such as people who don't have electric vehicles (EVs) and people who already have diesel cars, it's important to consider the unique characteristics and behaviors of each segment.

For the segment of people who don't have EVs, we can start by analyzing the population size and demographic factors that are relevant to their potential adoption of EVs. This may include factors such as income levels, geographic location, and access to charging infrastructure. By understanding the target population and their preferences, we can estimate the potential market size for EVs within this segment.

On the other hand, for the segment of people who already have diesel cars, we need to consider their willingness to switch to EVs. This may involve assessing factors such as their awareness of the environmental benefits of EVs, their attitudes towards sustainability, and any incentives or regulations that may influence their decision-making. By understanding the motivations and barriers for this segment, we can estimate the potential market size for EVs within the existing diesel car owners.

To approach this case, we can follow a two-step process:

Segment analysis: Begin by segmenting the overall population into the two segments - people who don't have EVs and people who already have diesel cars. Analyze the relevant characteristics and behaviors of each segment to understand their potential adoption of EVs.

Market sizing estimation: For each segment, estimate the market size by considering factors such as the total population, the percentage of people likely to adopt EVs, and any other relevant data points. This estimation can be done separately for each segment and then combined to provide an overall market size for EVs.

It's important to note that the specific data and assumptions used in the estimation will depend on the context of the case and the available information. Therefore, it's crucial to gather relevant data, make reasonable assumptions, and clearly communicate the rationale behind your calculations.

By approaching the case in this manner, we can gain insights into the potential market size for EVs within both segments and develop a comprehensive understanding of the overall market opportunity.

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Moritz
Coach
on Nov 03, 2023
ex-McKinsey EM & Interviewer | 7/8 offer rate for 4+ sessions | High impact sessions + FREE materials & exercises

Hi there,

It seems as though you're following a bottoms-up approach by focusing on the individual and their preferences (as opposed to a top-down approach starting with a certain number of cars and introducing a transition rate to EVs for example).

Can you explain what exactly you have so far so we can give feedback? Without seeing what you have already, it's impossible to tell.

Cheers
Moritz
___________________________________________________
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Cristian
Coach
on Nov 03, 2023
#1 Rated McKinsey Coach | Top MBB Coach | Verifiable success rates

Hi!

It doens't have to be a blindspot. Not sure what you mean by that. Could you please lay out your current approach? Happy to provide some feedback afterward. 

Aside from this, as a side tip, ChatGPT is super useful when practicing for market sizing exercises. You can even ask it for alternatives of sizing something so you understand how to approach the problem differently (e.g., top down vs bottom up).

Good luck!
Cristian

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Pedro
Coach
on Nov 06, 2023
Bain | EY-Parthenon | Former Principal | 1.5h session | 30% discount 1st session

Before answering, I would actually question WHY is that a good segmentation. It is not clear to me that it is useful in this case.

Both are a matter of how many do you expect to buy a NEW car next year, and how many of these will be EVs. One could apply different %s to each segment, depending on why you think that segmentation is relevant. 

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