> Electric motors use low amounts of rare earth metals, or in some cases none. Batteries generally don't use them either.
Maybe the term “rare” was poorly chosen. But mining those metals is the damaging part, not the abundance of the metals.
So my point is still correct.
> Automotive batteries have been demonstrated as >90% recyclable, far better than most materials we consider "recyclable" today such as plastic
Citation needed.
EV batteries are reused in some less demanding domains for a couple of years after their life in EVs. but everything that I’ve read thus far has said recycling the batteries themselves, after their life is done, is still very much in its infancy.
> The electric grid has sufficient capacity to onboard millions of electric cars without issue, and will not be impacted by the transition to EVs
Most country’s electric grids do. That’s the bloody point of a grid. It’s the last mile that’s the issue in some counties.
However I will concede that this point is a little unfair because it’s non-specific.
> Cost of ownership of EVs is significantly lower than ICE vehicles in their class, as is the lifetime carbon footprint
That depends. If you’re an occasional driver and charging your car at home, then the cost of electricity in some countries is going to be greater than the cost of petrol.
However if you travel lots and are heavily use charge stations at super markets et al, then EVs will be much cheaper to run than ICE.
It’s definitely not as clear cut as a lot of EV marketing claims.
(I’ve been adding up the costs just this month because was looking at buying an EV and it just wasn’t a cost saving for my particular requirements).
Maybe the term “rare” was poorly chosen. But mining those metals is the damaging part, not the abundance of the metals.
So my point is still correct.
> Automotive batteries have been demonstrated as >90% recyclable, far better than most materials we consider "recyclable" today such as plastic
Citation needed.
EV batteries are reused in some less demanding domains for a couple of years after their life in EVs. but everything that I’ve read thus far has said recycling the batteries themselves, after their life is done, is still very much in its infancy.
> The electric grid has sufficient capacity to onboard millions of electric cars without issue, and will not be impacted by the transition to EVs
Most country’s electric grids do. That’s the bloody point of a grid. It’s the last mile that’s the issue in some counties.
However I will concede that this point is a little unfair because it’s non-specific.
> Cost of ownership of EVs is significantly lower than ICE vehicles in their class, as is the lifetime carbon footprint
That depends. If you’re an occasional driver and charging your car at home, then the cost of electricity in some countries is going to be greater than the cost of petrol.
However if you travel lots and are heavily use charge stations at super markets et al, then EVs will be much cheaper to run than ICE.
It’s definitely not as clear cut as a lot of EV marketing claims.
(I’ve been adding up the costs just this month because was looking at buying an EV and it just wasn’t a cost saving for my particular requirements).