Nearly all major car companies are sabotaging EV transition, and Japan is worst, study finds

[usonian]

https://thedriven.io/2024/05/14/nearly-all-major-car-companies-are-sabotaging-ev-transition-and-japan-is-worst-study-finds/

A damning new report has shown that nearly all major car companies are actively sabotaging the world’s efforts to avoid catastrophic global warming. The lobbying strategies being used by the world’s largest automakers are putting global climate targets at risk and threatening the electric vehicle transition, according to the new report released by InfluenceMap.

Titled Automakers and Climate Policy Advocacy, the report provides analysis on the anti-EV lobbying activities of 15 of the world’s largest automakers in seven key regions around the world. The study uses industry-standard data from S&P Global Mobility on automakers’ forecast electric vehicle production.

In addition to scoring automakers on their climate policy sabotage, InfluenceMap also found the industry’s own EV production forecasts fail to meet the IEA’s (International Energy Agency) updated 1.5°C scenario of 66% EV market share by 2030.

The report says Japanese automakers are the least prepared for the EV transition and have the most active, strategic engagement against it.

The report is here
https://influencemap.org/site/data/000/028/Automaker_Climate-Lobbying_05-24.pdf
2.6 MB PDF file

The graphics in it are vastly more readable than the article.

[msongs]

1. except for china one suspects. dealers dont want to lose all that maintenance and repair nt

[Caribbeans]

2. Japan and EV's

In a country such as Japan that gets most of its electricity from burning coal and natural gas, EVs don’t help the environment, Mr. Toyoda said. “The more EVs we build, the worse carbon dioxide gets,” he said.
https://archive.is/t63VN

The charging infrastructure IN THE USA is no where near what it must be to be an acceptable alternative at this time even without considering the fact above.

2/3rds of the battery EV's in the USA are actually powered by natural gas or coal because that's what powers 2/3rds of the power plants.

A new study reveals large diesel trucks to be the greatest contributors to harmful black carbon emissions close to major roadways, indicating that vehicle types matter more than traffic volume for near-road air pollution.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/09/180910111237.htm

Trucks are a bigger contributor to pollution than cars but some people are convinced that every single vehicle in the USA MUST be powered by a 1,000 + pound battery that will die in around 10 years.

Even if Toyota went bankrupt next week they have done more to fight climate change with the Prius than every other car company on the planet.

[ramapo]

3. Poor selection, high cost

I decided to finally replace my 2008 Prius. I wanted to buy an EV. Not just for the lack of emissions but for the simplicity of the vehicle and the reduced maintenance. No oil changes, no exhaust system. Clean.

But I wanted something akin to the 2008 Prius design. I can fit a lot of stuff in it. I did not want to spend $70k. I would not support Tesla. A friend bought a Chevy Bolt a year or so ago, maybe a bit longer. They love it. A tad small for me but no matter, GM decided to stop making them. They were too popular and inexpensive.

I waited and searched and waited. There was nothing on the horizon. Why???

Then I learned about the Chinese market and was astounded by the selection. Lots of choices and competition. All price points. They put us to shame. I also learned that there is an extensive charging network, at least in the cities.

The Chinese would embarrass US car manufacturers. I understand why Biden just slapped huge tariff on these vehicles.

I ended up ordering a Toyota Cross AWD Hybrid. I still get 45MPG with my Prius and the Cross should match it, even though it is bigger. The new Prius is a nice car, impressive mileage but it is too small for my needs.

Toyota is focused on hybrids. I think most models at least offer a hybrid option. I don't think a plug-in hybrid is worth the extra cost. Although tried and true, hybrids are anything but simple and still require all the maintenance and sometimes then some. I have to say that over 16 years, I had very few problems with my Prius other than usual maintenance.

I am disappointed with the state of the EV market. It is ridiculous that it has taken on such political overtones. It's just another indication of our society not being able to get out of its own way and implement a new and better technology.

[CoopersDad]

4. My new Tesla Model 3 was $27K after incentives, before sales tax.

RWD in blue with 19" wheels, the color and wheels added $2,500.

This is with California rebates plus federal that were available last year.

I agree with you, we should have far more affordable choices, smaller ones, too, instead of the glut of Lucid and Rivian supercars.

[NNadir]

5. I don't have any problem with this; electricity isn't, despite indecent advertising, "green."

World production of electricity is dominated by dangerous fossil fuels; and despite much advertising to the contrary, so called "renewable energy" is neither sustainable nor significant. The expenditure of trillion dollar sums on solar and wind has had no other effect other than to make climate change accelerate.

Numbers don't lie.

Batteries are not sustainable either, because, like so called "renewable energy" their mass intensity is ridiculous; and even were it not, as a consequence of the 2nd law of thermodynamics, waste energy. The 2nd law of thermodynamics is not subject to repeal by advertising.

The idea that electric cars are "green," is absurd in the extreme. Electricity is already a thermodynamically degraded form of energy; the use of batteries degrades it further.

It has been shown that on my grid, the PJM grid, electric cars have a higher carbon impact than hybrid cars, which is not to say that hybrid cars - for full transparency I own one - are sustainable either. They are not.

I had a brief post on this here:

A paper addressing the idea that electric cars are "green."