The Koch brothers, who are deeply embedded in the fossil fuel industry, have long been financing offensives against electric vehicles through multimillion-dollar lobbying campaigns.
They are at it again with a fresh new effort to delegitimize electric cars and promote fossil fuels.
In the past, they have tried several different angles of attacks to paint electric cars in a bad light.
At first, it was about how electric vehicles are being subsidized by taxpayers. Of course, in those attacks, they left out the fact that fossil fuels have been subsidized by governments for decades at a rate way higher than EVs or renewable energy.
And that’s before accounting for the cost of the pollution caused by fossil fuels, which a IMF study found to be the equivalent of ~$5 trillion in subsidy a year.
When that wasn’t working, they instead went to the go-to argument that electric cars are powered by dirty energy from the grid. Of course, that’s energy that they themselves partly produce.
The argument has been debunked on several occasions. More recently, a study by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) using EPA data showed that the average electric car in the US now gets the equivalent efficiency of a non-existent 73 mpg gas-powered vehicle.
Now they are back with their latest campaign through “Fueling U.S. Forward”. Officially, the non-profit organization describes itself as “dedicated to educating the public about the value and potential of American energy, the vast majority of which comes from fossil fuels,” but in practice, it acts more as a PR firm for fossil fuels than anything else. The Koch brothers have been linked to financial backing for the organization.
As you would expect, their “education” is full of misinformation.
Their latest propaganda effort against EVs focuses on sourcing metals for batteries and spreading misinformation about EVs in general. Here’s the video that they produced:
https://youtu.be/H_WscmJSB2c
The first claim they make is that “electric cars are more toxic to humans than average cars.” They based that assertion on a study by Arthur D. Little,. which has been thoroughly debunked for inflating their emission estimates by 40% by accounting for battery replacement without recycling and adding the need for a replacement gasoline car with the EV.
They followed with a claim that batteries for electric cars are made of rare earth metals, which is not exactly true. First off, they include lithium and cobalt in rare earth element, which they are not.
Furthermore, there are tons of different battery chemistries using different minerals and they are not all the same nor have the same impact. Most battery makers try to avoid all rare earth metals, some do avoid them entirely.
In this case, they are focusing on cobalt, which is not a rare earth metal, but nonetheless, it can be a problematic mineral. A report by Amnesty International and Afrewatch published last year pointed directly to battery makers and their clients as fueling the conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where they produced most of the world’s cobalt.
In order to mitigate the impact of their products, companies have been following guidelines suggested in the report to supervise their supply chains in order to avoid any minerals in the DRC that could have been sourced in inhumane conditions and using child labor.
Furthermore, several new projects to mine cobalt, and other minerals found in batteries, have been launched in other parts of the world, including in North America, in order to offer alternatives to the DRC if the conditions don’t improve there.
Lastly, without sourcing their claim, the “Fueling U.S. Forward” campaign claims that batteries end up in landfills without being recycled. That’s something that is obviously false and actually one of the biggest advantages EVs have over gas-powered cars on the environment.
Once the oil is extracted, refined, transported, and consumed, there’s nothing to be done. It is released into the atmosphere and they have to start again. On the other hand, the minerals don’t simply evaporate from the batteries. Once their energy capacity has degraded, they can be recycled and you can be sure that they are since they still hold great value. It is much easier to mine a used battery pack than minerals in remote regions of the world.
Actually, battery recycling is expected to become big business. Whether it is to make less energy dense products, like BMW and Renault using their old EV batteries for stationary energy storage, or to recycle the actual minerals to make brand new batteries. Tesla is even believed to be behind a new startup for material recycling in order to take advantage of opportunities.
In conclusion, watch out for the misinformation in those Koch brothers-backed campaigns. While there are problems with sourcing some minerals for batteries, it is false to reach the conclusion that “electric cars are more toxic to humans than average cars” because of it.
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https://youtu.be/1DXOa0Kf-D0
https://electrek.co/2017/06/27/koch-brothers-electric-cars-fossil-fuels/
630,000 people didn't believe the KOCH propaganda.
excerpt:
"For comparison, about 630,000 battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles were sold in the U.S. in 2021—a number that must grow if the U.S. is to meet its greenhouse gas reduction targets. Those goals call for half of all new light-duty cars sold in 2030—accounting for millions of vehicles—to be zero-emission vehicles...."
Which EVs Qualify for the New Electric Vehicle Tax Credit? It’s Complicated.
The Inflation Reduction Act changes which new EVs get a tax break and for the first time includes a credit for used-EV buyers
Some new and used electric cars may be getting more affordable for consumers thanks to new tax credits, but details in the fine print are causing confusion about which new vehicles might qualify for immediate savings.
As part of a broad new legislative package—the Inflation Reduction Act—that addresses climate change, healthcare, and taxes, there is a new tax credit of up to $4,000 on used electric cars and revised tax credits of up to $7,500 on certain new EVs. (See the list of 2022 and 2023 models that qualify.)
But due to numerous new rules about where new EVs must be built and their batteries sourced, automakers argue that too few vehicles qualify, and EV advocates are concerned that the requirements may make it difficult for consumers to find a vehicle that qualifies for the credits. In the meantime, many shoppers who are in the market for an EV right now are waiting for more details to be finalized so they can find out which vehicles are eligible for a credit, and how much that credit could be.
"If you’re interested in an EV or a plug-in hybrid and it qualifies for a tax credit today, don’t wait, because it might not qualify next year. But if you’re considering a used EV, it might be worth waiting," says Jake Fisher, senior director of Consumer Reports’ Auto Test Center.
A requirement that vehicles be made in North America in order to qualify for a tax credit went into effect today as soon as President Biden signed the law, while some other rules don’t apply until after regulations are finalized.
Among other provisions, the new bill:
• Offers a new tax credit of up to $4,000 on used EVs put into service after Dec. 31, 2023.
• Takes away the 200,000 vehicle cap on tax credits that made EVs and plug-in hybrids from Tesla, GM, and Toyota ineligible.
• Does away with today’s tax credits for pricey EVs—such as the Hummer EV, Lucid Air, and Tesla Model S and Model X.
• Eliminates tax credits for vehicles not assembled in North America, including the BMW i4, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and Toyota bZ4X.
The bill also immediately restricts the full tax credit on new EVs to vehicles with battery minerals sourced from countries that the U.S. has a free trade agreement with or recycled in North America, and with battery components sourced from North America.
Starting in 2024, if any minerals or components are sourced from “foreign entities of concern,” including China or Russia, the vehicle will not qualify for any tax credit. An analysis this year of the EV supply chain from the International Energy Agency shows that the vast majority of minerals, components, and battery cells are currently sourced from China. This restriction doesn’t apply to used vehicles.
“The EV tax credit requirements will make most vehicles immediately ineligible for the incentive,” wrote John Bozzella, president and CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, an auto industry trade group.
A Congressional Budget Office analysis shows that the bill budgets for $85 million in new EV tax credits for the 2023 fiscal year, which only translates to about 11,000 new vehicles sold with full $7,500 credits. That number jumps to about 60,100 EVs in 2024.
For comparison, about 630,000 battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles were sold in the U.S. in 2021—a number that must grow if the U.S. is to meet its greenhouse gas reduction targets. Those goals call for half of all new light-duty cars sold in 2030—accounting for millions of vehicles—to be zero-emission vehicles.
“It’s good that it’s focused on building a base of processing and manufacturing here, but at the end of the day it’s going to be really complex to implement and explain to consumers," says Brett Smith, technology director at the Center for Automotive Research.
As far as used vehicles are concerned, the CBO estimates 24,750 used EVs will qualify in 2023, and about the same number in 2024.
Despite this initial confusion, the bill is a major achievement overall, says Quinta Warren, PhD, associate director of sustainability policy for Consumer Reports.
“This bill has enormous potential to be a game-changer for consumers and clean transportation,” she says. “Our research shows that a growing number of consumers are interested in getting electric vehicles, but many have questions about costs and charging, and this bill would help lower some of those barriers.”
The bill, which was passed by the Senate and the House, was signed into law by President Biden earlier today.
A CR survey shows that more than half of car buyers would be more likely to purchase an EV if a tax credit brought down the price. (You can find out which vehicles currently qualify here, at CR’s EV incentive finder.)
Until now, buyers of electric cars and plug-in hybrids could get up to a $7,500 federal tax credit as long as the manufacturer hasn’t sold more than 200,000 qualifying vehicles. Once an automaker reached that point, the credit began to phase out—which is why Tesla and GM vehicles have not qualified for a federal tax credit for several years. Toyota recently reached this sales milestone and will see its tax credits ratchet down, as well.
Chris Harto, CR’s senior policy analyst for transportation and energy, says that the provisions set forth in the bill might slow EV sales in the short term, but that it’s a “massively positive” benefit for EV adoption as a whole.
“Over the longer term automakers will adjust, bring their EV and battery manufacturing supply chains to North America, and ensure that American tax dollars are going to support American jobs,” he says. “Even though some vehicles that currently qualify will become ineligible, those tax credits were going to run out eventually—and likely pretty quickly for most popular vehicles—so the benefit would have been short-lived.”
Ultimately, the new rules will transition EV manufacturing away from China and toward North America, says Smith, but that shift could take time. Manufacturers are already making major investments in building batteries in the U.S., but supplying those factories with raw materials from North America could remain a problem, especially considering China’s dominance in mining. “Generally, it’s going to be tough to create the processing here and really tough to create the mining here," he tells CR.
How You Can Take Advantage of the Inflation Reduction Act
CR explains how buying a heat pump for your home could get you thousands of dollars in federal tax credits and state rebates. Plus, you might be eligible for a rebate when you buy an electric range, cooktop, or wall oven.
Which Cars Might Qualify for the New EV Tax Credit?
Depending on where their batteries are manufactured, only cars with a final assembly point in North America will qualify for the tax incentive. In addition, there are new caps on how much vehicles can cost: For SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans, the threshold is $80,000. For sedans, hatchbacks, wagons, and other vehicles, the credit cuts off at $55,000. And vehicles will still have to meet both of those aforementioned battery manufacturing targets to qualify for the full tax credit.
Although we don’t know which vehicles will meet the battery portion of the tax credit, these are the current and upcoming models made in North America with versions that cost less than the bill requires:
Cadillac Lyriq (only if it is classified as an SUV)
Chevrolet Blazer EV
Chevrolet Bolt
Chevrolet Bolt EUV
Chevrolet Silverado EV (with certain options and trim levels)
Ford F-150 Lightning (with certain options and trim levels)
Ford Mustang Mach-E
Nissan Leaf
Rivian R1S (with certain options and trim levels)
Rivian R1T (with certain options and trim levels)
Tesla Cybertruck (with certain options and trim levels)
Tesla Model 3 (with certain options and trim levels)
Tesla Model Y (only if it is classified as an SUV, and only with certain options and trim levels)
Volkswagen ID.4 (only 2023+ models made in Tennessee)
Of those vehicles, it remains to be seen which ones would meet the battery requirements. For example, the Chevrolet Bolt and its batteries are assembled in Michigan, so its qualification for a tax credit would be determined by which countries those battery minerals are sourced from. Other vehicles have cells that might be manufactured at multiple factories in different countries. “Once you have cells coming from two different places, how do you figure out the qualification?" asked Smith.
Because their prices are above $55,000, the Cadillac Lyriq and Tesla Model Y would qualify only if they are classified as SUVs and not station wagons, and if buyers don’t choose options that bring the price over $80,000.
For some vehicles, the credit might only be partial. “I’m thinking that maybe the Tesla Model 3 and Y would qualify for half of the $7,500 credit under the battery components requirement but not likely the minerals requirement,” says Loren McDonald of EV Adoption, an electric vehicle research, analysis, and marketing firm.
Which Cars Definitely Won’t Qualify for the New EV Tax Credit?
These current and upcoming EVs (and two fuel-cell vehicles) are not made in North America and therefore won’t qualify for a tax credit, although that might change in the future if their assembly location changes.
Audi E-Tron
Fisker Ocean
Genesis GV60
Hyundai Ioniq 5
Hyundai Ioniq 6
Hyundai Kona Electric
Hyundai Nexo
Jaguar I-Pace
Kia EV6
Kia Niro Electric
Lexus RZ
Mazda MX-30
Mercedes-Benz EQB
Nissan Ariya
Polestar 2
Subaru Solterra
Toyota bZ4x
Toyota Mirai
Volkswagen ID.4 (only certain models)
Volvo C40
In addition, regardless of where they are assembled, these vehicles are too expensive and will not qualify for any tax credit:
Audi E-Tron GT
BMW i4
BMW i7
BMW iX
Chevrolet Silverado EV (with certain options and trim levels)
Ford F-150 Lightning (with certain options and trim levels)
Genesis G80 Electric
GMC Hummer EV
Lucid Air
Mercedes-Benz EQE
Mercedes-Benz EQS
Porsche Taycan
Rivian R1T (with certain options and trim levels)
Tesla Cybertruck (with certain options and trim levels)
Tesla Model S
Tesla Model X
EV Tax Credit Details in the Inflation Reduction Act
• New electric and fuel-cell vehicles will get a tax credit up to $7,500. Some plug-in hybrid vehicles will also continue to qualify.
• Only vehicles that cost below a certain amount will qualify. For SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans, the threshold is $80,000. For sedans, hatchbacks, wagons, and other vehicles, the credit cuts off at $55,000. (Read more about affordable EVs.)
• There will be no limit on the number of vehicles an automaker can sell that are eligible for the credit.
• Unlike in prior years, the exact amount of the new tax credit will depend on a complex set of calculations based on where the vehicles are assembled and where the materials that make up their batteries are sourced. These requirements get stricter each year through 2026. The bill calls for proposed regulations on the specifics of these requirements by the end of December, which will likely be finalized some time in 2023.
• Only vehicles assembled in North America will be eligible for a tax credit.
• The exclusion of vehicles with components from “foreign entities of concern,” including Russia and China, will go into effect Dec. 31, 2023.
• Starting in 2024, dealerships will be able to offer the value of a tax credit up front to consumers. This may simplify the process for car buyers.
• Car buyers must meet certain income guidelines. Households with an adjusted gross income up to $300,000 will still qualify for the credit, while heads of household must be below $225,000 and individual filers will qualify only with income below $150,000.
• For the first time, buyers of used EVs will get a tax credit: either $4,000 or 30 percent of the sale price of the vehicle—whichever is lower—but only if they buy a car from a dealership.
• The income threshold is lower for used EV buyers: $150,000 for joint filers, $112,500 for a head of household, or $75,000 for an individual.
• Bidirectional EV chargers—ones that can also power your house using the energy stored in your car’s battery—are now eligible for tax incentives.
Editor’s Note: This article, originally published on Aug. 8, 2022, has been updated to clarify which provisions of the legislation go into effect on which dates. It was also updated on 8/16/22 after the bill was signed.
excerpt:
Electric Vehicle Prices Fall as EV Battery Tech Improves
Electric vehicles (EVs) only accounted for around 3.2% of global car sales in 2020—a figure that’s set to grow in the coming decade, largely due to falling EV battery costs.
With rising production and technological improvements, batteries are becoming cheaper to produce, making EVs increasingly competitive with gas-powered cars.
Wright’s Law is Right So Far
According to Wright’s Law, also known as the learning curve effect, lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery cell costs fall by 28% for every cumulative doubling of units produced.
Wright’s Law has accurately predicted the decline in battery costs and so far, reported battery prices have been in line with modeled forecasts. The battery pack is the most expensive part of an electric vehicle. Consequently, the sticker prices of EVs fall with declining battery costs.
By 2023, the cost of Li-ion batteries is expected to fall to around $100/kWh—the price point at which EVs are as cheap to make as gas-powered cars.
EVs are already cheaper to own and operate than comparable gas-powered cars due to savings from gas, maintenance, and resale value. Therefore, a reduction in retail electric vehicle prices may enable them to compete more directly with gas-powered cars.
According to ARK Invest, the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of a 350-mile range EV will be on par with that of a like-for-like Toyota Camry in 2023. Furthermore, the price of a 350-mile range EV is projected to drop by 53% between 2021-2025—making it $8,000 cheaper than the Camry.
The Electric Catch Up
Electric vehicles are a key piece of the puzzle in the transition to clean energy. Hence, growing consumer awareness around climate change is a catalyst for the EV space.
However, as EV production increases, so does the need for various critical minerals, charging infrastructure, and more. Price is just one of the hurdles that EV manufacturers need to overcome on the road to mainstream EV adoption.
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/electric-vehicle-battery-prices-fall/
How Much Does an Electric Car Battery Replacement Cost?
Modern electric vehicles (EVs) will last quite a while on their stock battery pack, but eventually they’ll degrade and need to be replaced. The prospect of a replacement might make you hesitant about buying an EV, so what will a replacement actually run you, and how can you avoid needing one?
What It Costs to Replace an EV Battery
Electric car battery replacement costs vary. If the battery is still under warranty, you could get it replaced for free. If not, the average cost as of 2020 was around $137 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of battery capacity, according to a Bloomberg report.
So a vehicle like the Chevy Bolt, which has a 65 kWh battery pack, would cost around $8905 for a new one at the average price. The price also depends on a number of other factors, including:
What vehicle you’re driving
What the battery that EV uses is made of (if it has more expensive metals, the cost is higher)
How large the battery pack is
Whether the battery is under warranty
Some EV batteries cost as little as $2,500 to replace, while others can be upwards of $20,000, according to an analysis by Recurrent Auto. Even at the low end, that’s still about as much as replacing a gasoline vehicle’s transmission. The good news is, we’ll probably see those costs decline in the next few years.
Electric car batteries are already cheaper to replace than they were when EVs first got popular. According to the Bloomberg report, the average cost of a new EV battery pack in 2010 was over $1,000/kwh. With advances in battery technology, we could see prices around $100/kWh by 2023, with further decreases as technology improves.
Average EV battery pack costs sometimes beat projections. In 2017, for example, McKinsey released a report projecting the average price of an EV’s battery would be around $190/kWh by the end of 2020. The actual cost ended up being around $53/kWh lower at $137/kWh.
Keep in mind that, rather than catastrophically failing, it’s much more common for an electric car’s battery to slowly lose capacity over time until it can’t power the vehicle. Most EVs manufactured in recent years are still on the road, if at somewhat decreased charge capacity, so not enough of them have needed battery replacements to gather a lot of data on replacement cost.
As newer batteries get built with cheaper metals, no liquid components, and faster charge times, the cost to replace one could significantly change. Owners of older electric cars, though, will probably need to get the battery replaced at some point if they keep them for several years more.
How to Keep an EV’s Battery in Peak Condition
To avoid having to replace your electric car’s battery too soon, it’s a good idea to follow some simple guidelines for keeping it in peak operating condition. Fast charging, for example, should be limited except in emergencies or where it can’t be avoided. It’s especially important to avoid fast charging in very cold weather since the process will use up some of the lithium metal inside the battery and decrease overall charge capacity.
Keep the battery charge between 20-80%. Letting it dip below that number or constantly keeping the battery at 100% can reduce its charge capacity and shorten its life. Instead, try shorter top-off charges or slower charging at home or work, if possible.
In cold weather, pre-heat the battery before charging. In the hot months, take measures like parking in the shade to reduce battery heat. It’s also a good idea to pre-heat or cool the interior of the car while it’s still plugged into a charging station to avoid sapping battery power to use those systems.
Driving at high speeds and accelerating very quickly will drain a charge faster, so keep that in mind. Battery maintenance varies by manufacturer, so check the car’s user manual for specific tips and guidelines.
Pricey, But Getting Cheaper
Like most costs associated with electric vehicles, the cost of battery replacement started high. It remains expensive today, but we should see a decrease in that cost over the next few years. If that happens, it would mean a reduction in one of the most significant costs of EV ownership.
To learn more about what it costs to own an electric car, check out our explainer on how far an EV charge will get you.
RELATED: How Does an EV Battery's Charge Compare to a Tank of Gas?
READ NEXT
› Why Does an Electric Car’s Battery Degrade?
› How Long Does It Take to Charge an Electric Car?
https://www.howtogeek.com/805841/how-much-does-an-electric-car-battery-replacement-cost/
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