Two Out of Every Three New Vehicles Automakers Sell Will Be Electric Vehicles by 2032
All aboard the electric vehicle caravan.
To address climate change, the Biden administration proposed rules on 4/12/23 to remake the US auto industry into one much more focused on EVs.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s proposals seek to spur the biggest changes to the sector since the Model T was debuted by industry pioneer Henry Ford. They’re designed to make sure 67% of all new passenger cars sold in the US are electric by 2032. According to Kelley Blue Book date, that’s up from just 5.8% of new cars last year (2022).
Do the rules get rid of gas guzzlers?
They don’t actually require car companies to make and sell more EVs. Rather, they slap super strict restrictions on tailpipe emissions. This will be forcing companies to turn to EVs to comply.
Major automakers have already started to invest big money in EV production, but they’ve said that juicing sales will require factors beyond their control. This includes better charging infrastructure and battery supply chains.
And the U.S. auto buyer ain’t buying it, that is EV autos. In a recent poll, 47% of Americans said they weren’t likely to pick an EV for their next car.
So we did some digging, and here are some questions that came to our minds, and the answers we found. Answers to our questions are sourced.
Half of the world's cobalt originates from the Democratic Republic of Congo, while Indonesia, Australia, and Brazil make up the lion's share of global nickel reserves, and South America's 'Lithium Triangle' consisting of Bolivia, Chile and Argentina hold 75% of the world's lithium.
Does China own all the lithium mines?
China controls 60% of the world’s lithium resources, which are used in batteries for electric vehicles among other uses.
Check out a previous blog post about China.
What are the raw materials for EV batteries?
The major materials required in lithium-ion batteries are the chemical components lithium, manganese, cobalt, graphite, steel, and nickel. These components all have different functions in the typical electric vehicle battery that contribute to improved performance.
Is there enough material to make EV batteries?
While the world does have enough lithium to power the electric vehicle revolution, it's less a question of quantity, and more a question of accessibility. Earth has approximately 88 million tonnes of lithium, but only one-quarter is economically viable to mine as reserves.
Is mining lithium bad for the environment?
According to a report by Friends of the Earth (FoE), lithium extraction inevitably harms the soil and causes air contamination. As demand rises, the mining impacts are “increasingly affecting communities where this harmful extraction takes place, jeopardizing their access to water,” says the report.
How much pollution is caused by mining lithium?
Particularly in hard rock mining, for every tonne of mined lithium, 15 tonnes of CO2 are emitted into the air.
Why is lithium so hard to mine?
Lack of water in the region is not just the single potential problem with lithium mining. Toxic chemicals can leak from the evaporation pools to the water supply, such as hydrochloric acid, which is used in the processing of lithium – as well as waste products that can filter out of the brine.
What is the lifespan of an electric car?
According to current industry expectations, EV batteries are projected to last between 100,000 and 200,000 miles, or about 15 to 20 years. What????
Salt, or sodium, is a close chemical cousin to lithium. While a very similar element, it does not have the same environmental impact, meaning it could be a feasible option to replace it. The solution could be sodium-ion batteries.
How well do electric cars work in cold climates?
The amount of range lost depends on many factors such as the car itself, its potential range in normal weather, and whether the heat is on. According to AAA, EVs often lose 12% of their range in cold weather, but the loss leaps to 41% with the heater on full blast.
Can the US power grid handle electric cars?
An analysis by KPMG says the U.S. currently has enough generating capability to charge 80 million EVs during overnight hours—hence the need to control when cars are charged. The Edison Electric Institute estimates there could be 26 million EVs on the road by 2030, up from about 3.2 million today.
How much coal does it take to charge an electric car?
While it can depend on the kWh of your specific car, your location, and the type of charger you're using, here's what we know about the amount of coal used to charge an electric car: A typical American EV needs 66 kWh to charge. On average, cars in America use 70 pounds of coal per charge (or about 8 gallons of oil).
How much does it cost to charge an electric vehicle at a power station?
The average cost of charging an EV at a commercial charger, from almost empty to almost full, is between $10 and $30. Keep in mind that charging your EV on a road trip—that is, at a commercial charger—costs significantly more than charging it at home.
What would happen if everyone switched to electric cars?
The US would need to produce 20-50% more electricity annually if all cars were electric vehicles. In 2022, California became the first state to require all new cars and light trucks sold to be zero-emission vehicles by 2035.
I like my Jeep Gladiator just fine, thank you…