From time to time, I like to bring back articles I’ve written in the past for two reasons. First— so the reader can notice when the article was originally published and second, so the reader can see not much of anything has been accomplished since. We find this to be true more often than not so it begs the question, why did it take place at all other than it’s likely primary use being a distraction or to funnel money from the American public to yet another government boondoggle enriching the lives of… well, who knows. The article below illustrates both. I published it on August 27, 2022. In other words, a year and a half has passed and what have we seen since? More importantly, look at the questions asked within and after all this time, have any of them been answered? Of course not. Below is the article— originally published as part of a multi-topic series titled “Just a Thought”. I feel it’s become important enough to give it’s own space.
The Rush to EV’s
Anyone— I repeat, anyone who actually believes that mandating electric vehicles in the very near future and completely doing away with fossil fuels at the same pace have got to be out of their ever lovin’ minds, living in a fantasy world (same thing I guess) or so lazy and intellectually complacent that they just believe what they’re told from their liberal professors, and/or liberal media out of hand or worse— in the back pockets of the Chinese government. Feel free to pick the best reason that fits you.
I know what some of you are thinking. You’re about to say Basket, you’re full of shit! Why would you make a statement like that? OK! I’ll tell you why. Wait, on second thought, I have a better idea. Seeing that most people seem to believe that EV’s just magically appear on a showroom floor with a minimum pricetag of 66K— opps! I forgot, have to add $7,500.00 because dealers raised their prices to eat up the tax credit of $7,500.00 prospective buyers will receive for covered EV’s (which are few to choose from,) please ask yourself the following questions. The answers to which are readily available online although most likely escaped you as you formed your misguided opinion of EV’s saving the world from climate change. Ready? Here are just a few. Keep in mind— there are 12 other states that want to follow California’s lead in mandating all electric vehicles by 2035.
1. How is most electricity in the US produced?
2. Due to inflation, the price of electricity has gone up at least 16%— what do you think the price will be when the population of 13+ states are charging their EV’s at home?
3. Charging an EV (last time I checked) cost somewhere between $9.00 and $30.00 per charge. (Depending on where you charge it.) Inflation and demand skyrocketing due to everyone now charging their EV’s, do you actually believe the price for a full charge will remain the same?
4. With brownouts and blackouts due to high demand for electricity happening on a fairly regular basis during certain months of the year, what makes you think there will be enough available electricity to charge potentially millions of EV’s in states like California that has to purchase most if not all of it’s electric power from other states?
5. Do you believe that technology exists now, or even in twelve very short years to provide the electricity required to charge potentially millions of EVs’?
6. Do you believe the infrastructure exists now, or even in twelve very short years (meaning charging stations and the lines that will feed power to them) to deal with the potentially millions of EV’s requiring recharging on a regular basis?
7. The cost of a recharging station or refitting a gas station to charge EV’s is somewhere (right now) between 50 and 150 thousand dollars. Do you think that would raise the price of charging your EV?
8. What’s the cost of installing a EV charging station in your home?
9. How long does it take to charge your EV at home? (Level 1 charging – Level 2 charging, as only public stations have level 3 charging which are the fastest).
10. Seeing that charging your EV at home equates to plugging in 30 refrigerators for eight to fifteen hours, what do think that will do to your monthly electric bill?
11. What is the average cost for the upkeep and maintenance of an EV?
12. How long does the battery in an EV last?
13. What’s the total replacement cost of an EV battery? (Parts and labor).
14. How long will a manufacturer provide replacement batteries for older EV’s?
Ready to give up yet? No? OK— I’ll continue…..
15. What happens to an EV battery that no longer functions? Is there a cost to the consumer for recycling their EV battery should they choose not to replace it or purchase another EV where their old battery doesn’t fit?
16. When millions of EV’s hit the road by 2035, two things are sure to happen. The price to charge your EV will go up and up while the price of gas will go down and down. (Supply and demand folks) How will you feel when you’re eventually paying 3 to 4 times the price to charge your EV compared to what it will (because of lower demand) cost to fill up a tank of gas?
17. While from what I understand, 90% of an EV battery is recyclable. What’s the environmental impact from the 10% of millions of EV batteries that isn’t?
18. Where do the components of an EV battery come from?
19. Where are EV batteries manufactured?
20. Seeing as most of the raw materials used to make an EV battery are mined in other countries (primarily China,) what do we do if these other Countries decide to stop exporting to the US?
21. What will the environmental impact be with substantially increased mining of raw materials used in the manufacturing of EV batteries?
Believe it or not, the 21 questions above are just the ones I could think of off the top of my head. I’m certain there are many more but I believe you get the point I’m trying to make. And that is the United States are in no way, shape or form ready to jump head first into EV’s. Technologically and financially. Now or even in the near future. Forget the small fact that we’re now over 30 Trillion (with a T) in debt. Forget about inflation being realistically somewhere between 45 and 70%. It would be like diving head first into an empty pool. Trust me, the diver loses every time.
This doesn’t mean we can’t continue the quest for one main reason. Fossil fuel is finite. There will come a day when we will run out and I am certain, before that day comes we will have a viable replacement. Oil companies are and have been well aware of this for at least the last 60 years and I doubt their business model is simply closing up shop afterwards. My guess is that over the decades, they have bought up technology and/or developing their own just waiting for the right time to bring it to market. But not until it’s ready— and we’re ready.
Now, there will be some of you woke liberals who refuse to see the truth. You believe that 2+2=10 just as long as equity is included. For you? I’m sorry, there’s just no helping you until you have one foot off the cliff of common sense and rational thinking. Perhaps by then you will see the light. For the rest of you climateers, feel free to do just a little bit of research on the questions I pose above and perhaps you will realize that this endeavor— while altruistic— is just not feasible at this time. Nor will it be in 13 years, or 20 for that matter. And for those of you in California who actually believe this will work, good luck with that but please don’t ask the rest of us to bail you out— again, when it fails. You can’t afford to have too many more leave your state because of your delusional policies.
One last message for those in these 13 states considering this harebrained idea. Don’t you think your time and money would be put to better use solving real problems plaguing the people who live there? The homeless? Out of control crime? The fact that your large cities like New York and Chicago are turning into shithole cities? Your children dying of fentanyl poisoning daily? That only 35% of kids in the forth grade can read at grade level? You may want to reexamine your priorities.
Just a Thought
