The Electric Vehicle (EV) discussion thread (Merged)

[superchuck500]

Except its always easier and cheaper to replace than recycle. I just hope in our push to embrace EV's we aren't going to create a tsunami of potentially new environmental issues. The US Government is keen on backing the push to EV, but I've seen very little when it comes to the sustainment side and plans for sound investment in recycling of the thousands of tons of batteries that are going to be generated as waste as part of this wave. What if these battery manufactures find a way to eliminate Colbalt from the cells? Without the most expensive component is there still an incentive to recycle?

The Race To Crack Battery Recycling—Before It’s Too Late

Millions of EVs will soon hit the road, but the world isn’t ready for their old batteries. A crop of startups wants to crack this billion-dollar problem.

www.wired.com

This article gives some good insight on the push to develop methods to recycling all the current lithium-ion batteries. Unfortunately, none of these recycling methods can bring an old lithium-ion cell back to life. Right now, it's just extracting components so a replacement cell can be made. However, only something like 5% (https://cen.acs.org/materials/energy-storage/time-serious-recycling-lithium/97/i28) of the cell can be "recycled" so there are still some serious waste issues to be solved but we are already pretty far down the road.

I'm certainly on board with creating alternatives to our energy demands. I'd just like to see a more comprehensive plan to address this issue on the spent cells.

I think I read that for now the practical focus is on secondary, downstream uses of the exhausted batteries - re-purpose more so than recycle, but I really don’t remember what those purposes were. And the piece you cited talks about how messy that process is.

I think it’s one of those areas where the timeline has room for years of R&D. Hopefully the picture improves.

 

[BooBirdSaint]

I think it’s one of those areas where the timeline has room for years of R&D. Hopefully the picture improves.

Battery demand has increased 800% in just the last 5 years. If we in the West are only recycling 5% of an 800 lb to 900 lb lithium cell (I'm seeing cell size double - Mercedies Benz is releasing a 1400 lb cell next year) then we won't be scaled to handle the waste in "years" from now. What is the percentage of EV's right now? Less than 6% of all cars in the US (about 2 million cars)? Its kicking the can down the road which is a terrible philosophy when you consider this technology is marketed as "green" and renewable. If lithium-ion was new technology, then I could understand it. But lithium-ion batteries have been around for 40 plus years. IMO the rush to solve one problem is creating other problems. Now is the best time to address this issue before we have hundreds of thousands of tons of EV cells needing disposal.
The problem must be regulated to solve. Leaving it up to business to regulate themselves has proven to be fools gold.

 

[NewOrleansFan]

More EVs made eligible for revised $7,500 tax credit - Autoblog

The Treasury Department made several additional vehicles eligible for up to $7,500 in tax credits by revising its vehicle classifications.

www.autoblog.com

Tesla just increased its Model Y by $1000 because it is now listed as a SUV so it is still below the $80,000 threshold to qualify for the tax

 

[Zztop]

Ford set to announce $3.5 billion EV battery plant in Michigan, sources say

The automaker is scheduled to hold a news event at Ford Ion Park near Detroit on Monday. The plant would be near the intersection of I-69 and I-94, both key commercial corridors.

www.autonews.com

 

[nolaspe]

 

[Tapxe]

Tesla will open part of electric vehicle charging network to other drivers, White House says

The move comes as the Biden administration works to build a national EV charging network as part of its effort to address climate change.

www.nbcnews.com

Tesla will make at least 7,500 chargers from its U.S. Supercharger and Destination Charger network available for all electric vehicles by the end of 2024, according to a White House release. The available chargers will be distributed across the country, including at least 3,500 new and existing Tesla Superchargers along highway corridors and Destination Chargers at locations such as hotels and restaurants in urban and rural locations. Tesla will also double its full nationwide network of Superchargers, manufactured in Buffalo, New York, the White House said.

 

[Rickboy]

Tesla will open part of electric vehicle charging network to other drivers, White House says

The move comes as the Biden administration works to build a national EV charging network as part of its effort to address climate change.

www.nbcnews.com

I’m looking forward to this. Not only do we get access to Tesla‘s infrastructure but it will put pressure on these terrible vendors, like Electrify America, to get their act together.

 

[DavidM]

Tesla recalls 362,758 vehicles, says Full Self-Driving Beta software may cause crashes

The Tesla recall notice was posted on the on the website of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Thursday.

www.cnbc.com

 

[Zztop]

Ram 1500 REV $100 Reservations Sell Out In Just One Week [Update]

If you were putting off registering as a Ram 1500 REV Insider+ to get a chance to get in line for some of the first Ram 1500 REVs, I’ve got some bad news for you: As of Friday the $100 sign-up — which doesn’t even guarantee a place in line to buy the electric pickup — is completely sold out.

jalopnik.com

 

[Rickboy]

Ram 1500 REV $100 Reservations Sell Out In Just One Week [Update]

If you were putting off registering as a Ram 1500 REV Insider+ to get a chance to get in line for some of the first Ram 1500 REVs, I’ve got some bad news for you: As of Friday the $100 sign-up — which doesn’t even guarantee a place in line to buy the electric pickup — is completely sold out.

jalopnik.com

Just goes to show that EV Truck demand is still very very strong. Even a mediocre EV truck is going to sell well.

 

[Tapxe]

Just goes to show that EV Truck demand is still very very strong. Even a mediocre EV truck is going to sell well.

For all the vocal wailing and gnashing from everyone who doesn't want an EV, it seems like there's an incredible amount of pent up demand.

 

[Maxp]

Ram 1500 REV $100 Reservations Sell Out In Just One Week [Update]

If you were putting off registering as a Ram 1500 REV Insider+ to get a chance to get in line for some of the first Ram 1500 REVs, I’ve got some bad news for you: As of Friday the $100 sign-up — which doesn’t even guarantee a place in line to buy the electric pickup — is completely sold out.

jalopnik.com

Dodge+electric vehicle = 100% chance of fire.

 

[Rickboy]

Just goes to show that EV Truck demand is still very very strong. Even a mediocre EV truck is going to sell well.

Gas in my area is back up to over $4 a gallon. That could be a factor. It costs me ~$13 to charge up my truck for 320miles of range (135 Kwh) definitely cheaper than what I would be spending if I had gotten the Raptor I was considering.

 

[Tapxe]

Gas in my area is back up to over $4 a gallon. That could be a factor. It costs me ~$13 to charge up my truck for 320miles of range (135 Kwh) definitely cheaper than what I would be spending if I had gotten the Raptor I was considering.

You priced an oil change lately?