Unmasking the Anti-Electric Car Agenda: A Deep Dive
Amid the global shift to electric vehicles, a counter-narrative persists. Who's behind it and why? Discover the forces resisting change and their motives. Intrigued? Read on.
In the midst of the global shift towards electric vehicles (EVs), a counter-narrative persists, casting doubt on the benefits of EVs and promoting the continued use of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. This article aims to uncover the forces driving this anti-EV agenda and their motivations.
The Anti-EV Narrative
The anti-EV narrative often revolves around a few key arguments: the environmental impact of EV battery production, the challenges of building an efficient charging infrastructure, and the supposed superiority of hydrogen or biofuel alternatives. However, these arguments often overlook the significant advancements in EV technology and the broader context of the global energy transition.
The environmental impact of EV battery production is a common point of contention. Critics argue that the extraction of lithium, cobalt, and other materials used in EV batteries can have significant environmental and human rights implications. However, it's important to note that the industry is making strides in addressing these issues. For instance, Tesla has committed to using only 'conflict-free' minerals in its batteries, and is actively researching alternatives to cobalt Furthermore, the environmental impact of battery production must be weighed against the substantial reductions in emissions that EVs offer over their lifetime compared to conventional vehicles.
The development of an efficient charging infrastructure is another challenge often cited by EV critics. While it's true that charging infrastructure is still a work in progress in many parts of the world, significant investments are being made to expand and improve it. In the UK, for example, the government has pledged to install hundreds of thousands of new EV charging points by 2030. Moreover, the advent of home charging and innovative solutions like mobile charging units are making it increasingly convenient to own and operate an EV.
Finally, some critics argue that hydrogen or biofuel-powered vehicles could be a better solution than EVs. While these technologies have their merits, they also have significant drawbacks. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, for instance, require expensive and energy-intensive hydrogen production and distribution infrastructure. Biofuels, on the other hand, can compete with food production for land and resources, and their net emissions can vary greatly depending on how they're produced.
The Role of the Fossil Fuel Industry
The fossil fuel industry, which stands to lose the most from the transition to electric vehicles, has been identified as a significant player in the propagation of anti-EV sentiment. The industry has a history of funding research and lobbying efforts aimed at slowing the adoption of renewable energy technologies.
In fact, the oil industry has been seen to actively combat the rise of electric vehicles. Groups backed by industry giants like Exxon Mobil and the Koch empire are waging a state-by-state, multimillion-dollar battle to squelch utilities’ plans to build charging stations across the country. This battle is reminiscent of the “Who Killed the Electric Car?” battles that doomed an earlier generation of battery-driven vehicles in the 1990s.
Oil-backed groups have challenged electric companies’ plans in 10 states, according to utility commission filings reviewed by POLITICO, waging regulatory and lobbying campaigns against the proposals. The showdown is taking place as utilities, eager to increase the demand for power, push for approval to build charging networks in locations such as shopping centres and rest stops in more than half the nation.
The counterattack involves an array of trade associations and industry-funded political groups representing every segment of the petroleum sector. In the Midwest, the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, a trade group for gasoline makers, has filed comments against charging plans in Kansas and Missouri, and has opposed Colorado’s new zero-emission vehicle mandate as part of a “Freedom to Drive” coalition of auto dealers and oil groups.
In Illinois and Iowa, the American Petroleum Institute joined with Americans for Prosperity — a political group funded by the Koch oil empire — to oppose utilities’ electric vehicle investments. The owner of a large refinery joined other industrial interests to oppose utility charging and shared mobility plans in Minnesota.
In Massachusetts, API teamed with gasoline marketers and convenience stores to oppose an electric vehicle charging buildout from the utility National Grid. The Western States Petroleum Association has opposed utility charging plans in Arizona alongside AFP, as well as electric vehicle legislation in California. And in Maryland, API aligned with convenience stores, gasoline stations and truck-stop owners to oppose utilities’ electric vehicle plans.
Oil groups are also fighting in Congress to oppose tax credits for electric vehicles, pushing lawmakers to increase electric vehicle fees — 26 states have them today — and supporting the Trump administration’s proposed rollback of Obama-era fuel efficiency standards. Auto dealers represent one of the prime business sectors allied with President Donald Trump on the rollback.
The motivation for the lobbying push stems from an existential threat facing the global oil sector in the rise of the electric vehicle. Electric vehicle mandates in China and many European Union nations have set a target of phasing out gasoline vehicles by 2040 or sooner. That will continue driving battery prices down in the coming years, said David Doherty, an oil specialist at Bloomberg New Energy Finance. And that, he said, should create a tipping point in the middle of the next decade as passenger electric vehicles become widely competitive with gas-powered ones — meaning the oil industry has only a few years to stem the tide.
The Influence of Misinformation
Misinformation plays a significant role in shaping public opinion about electric vehicles. A study by the University of Cambridge found that misinformation about EVs is widespread on social media platforms, often spread by bots and fake accounts. This misinformation can create confusion and doubt among potential EV buyers, slowing the adoption of electric vehicles.
The echo effect of social media messages can influence consumer trust. Fossil fuel industry insiders and allies have pounced on social media algorithmic repetition to spread EV misinformation, even as the mass ramp-up to their adoption is taking place. Continued and coordinated efforts through op-eds and paid posts mirror and perpetuate EV mythology.
For instance, one common myth is that heavy EVs jeopardise public safety. This controversy started when a structural engineer generally noted, “If a vehicle is heavier than the car park was originally designed for, the effects could be catastrophic.” Within a couple of weeks, a media frenzy had taken place, extending the premise to accuse heavy EVs of jeopardising public safety. What wasn’t mentioned — in what’s known as a “false equivalency” — is that most contemporary vehicles exceed the weight maximums for parking garages constructed in the 1970s — that includes both ICE vehicle and EVs.
Another misinformation campaign claims that the transition to electric cars threatens environmental havoc. The problem cited here is critical mineral extraction, lithium particularly, which is depicted as the culprit in “needless water shortages, Indigenous land grabs, and ecosystem destruction inside and outside its borders.” Without reducing US personal car usage, the mass transition to lithium battery-powered EVs by 2050 “will deepen global environmental and social inequalities linked to mining – and may even jeopardise the 1.5C global heating target.” Critical minerals mining can create economic value, improve livelihoods, and generate tax revenue. However, it can also entail harmful environmental consequences other than emissions, including biodiversity loss and social disruption due to land-use change, water depletion and pollution, waste, and air pollution.
These are just a few of the many EV misinformation media messages that interrupt full adoption of transportation electrification. Strategies that integrate innovation and equity include prioritising communication and marketing, revisiting assumptions and biases about early adopters, and designing government programs to increase demand and maximise universal benefits.
The Impact of Government Policies
Government policies play a pivotal role in the transition to electric vehicles. In the UK, the government has made a firm commitment to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, a move that has been met with resistance from certain sectors, particularly those with vested interests in the internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle industry. This policy is a part of the UK's broader strategy to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and it puts the UK on track to be the fastest G7 country to decarbonise cars and vans.
This commitment is underpinned by a significant investment of over £1.8 billion to support the uptake of zero-emission vehicles and promote a green economic recovery. This includes £1.3 billion to accelerate the roll-out of chargepoints for electric vehicles in homes, streets, and motorways across England, ensuring that charging an electric vehicle becomes as routine as charging a mobile phone.
Furthermore, the government has pledged £582 million in grants for those buying zero or ultra-low emission vehicles to make them cheaper to buy and incentivise more people to make the transition. The government is also introducing green number plates from December 2020 to increase awareness of cleaner vehicles on our roads and help local authorities bring in local incentives such as cheaper parking and cost-free entry into zero-emission zones.
In the coming months, the Department for Transport will publish a green paper on the post-EU regulatory regime for CO2 emissions from new road vehicles. This will consider both overall fleet efficiency and how to best deliver the transition to 100% zero emission sales for cars and vans. A consultation on the phase-out of new diesel heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) to put the UK in the vanguard of zero emission freight will also be launched.
The Future of Electric Vehicles
Despite the challenges, the future of electric vehicles looks promising. Sales of EVs in the UK hit a record high in November 2021, accounting for 32.2% of all new car registrations. This trend is expected to continue as more people recognise the benefits of electric vehicles, from lower running costs to reduced emissions.
As electric cars continue to gain popularity, it is widely believed that EVs are the future of transportation. Not only will mainstream electric cars transform the automotive industry as a whole but most importantly, they will also help replace the use of fossil fuels in a bid to decarbonise the earth.
Electric vehicles will likely continue to become more prevalent in the coming years. It is projected that EVs could make up a total of 45% of global car sales by 2035. In contrast, sales of internal combustion engine (ICE) cars are expected to see a gradual decline as the market shifts towards EVs.
As the global EV market continues to grow, several automakers have announced their plans to increase the production of their electric car range. As a result, this provides additional opportunities to go electric, specifically speaking, electric car leasing and electric van leasing which is generally a more affordable alternative to buying a car due to its lower monthly costs.
Research shows that 2022 saw a new level of growth when it came to EV sales. By December there had been a significant increase in new EV registrations resulting in a massive market share of 32.9% in the UK. Needless to say, the EV market is growing – and it’s growing fast.
According to research, the growth of EVs will only continue to rise with 42,284 registrations of battery-electric cars in December 2022 alone. This has resulted in a market share of 32.9% when it comes to all new car registrations - but as EVs continue to gain more popularity, what does this mean for internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEs)? Well, studies have shown that there has been a drastic decline in the registration of various ICEs. Diesel in particular saw a massive -47.0% decrease in 2021-2022 registrations, whilst petrol registration decreased by 17.7%.
In 2021, the UK government officially confirmed the pledge for zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) within the next two decades. On a global scale, ZEVs grew drastically from 2.1 million in 2019 to 5.3 million in 2021. It is also forecasted that ZEVs will be a whopping 70% of all new car sales in 2040, this projection doubled in the last five years.
As a result of this level of projected growth, research shows that a target of 300,000 electric vehicle chargers will be made publicly available in the UK by 2030. This announcement comes just after a record-breaking year for the number of public electric car chargers in 2022. In a race to dominate a fast-growing EV market, more than 8,700 chargers were installed by December 2022, bringing the total to 37,000. This showcases an impressive 30% increase in just one year.
According to recent figures, battery electric vehicles are set to overtake ICEs in the UK car market by 2025. One-third of used car sales will be EVs by 2030 and are projected to account for approximately 10% of the British car market. In 2021, EVs made up just 3.1% of the total number of cars on the road. This equates to just under 400,000 cars. By 2025, this figure is expected to double to an estimated 6% and an even higher figure of 19% by 2030 with 6.4 million cars forecasted on the road.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the anti-EV agenda is driven by a multifaceted array of factors, from vested interests in the fossil fuel industry to misinformation campaigns and policy resistance. However, the momentum propelling the electric vehicle revolution appears to be unstoppable. As more individuals experience the benefits of electric vehicles firsthand - including lower running costs, zero tailpipe emissions, and an increasingly seamless user experience - the appeal of this sustainable transport option continues to grow.
Furthermore, the infrastructure to support electric vehicles is rapidly developing, with an expanding network of charging stations and advancements in battery technology that are continually extending vehicle range. These improvements are making electric vehicles a more practical and accessible choice for an increasing number of people.
At the same time, the broader context of the global energy transition cannot be ignored. As the world grapples with the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change, the shift towards renewable energy sources and sustainable transport solutions is gaining pace. In this scenario, electric vehicles are not just an alternative, but a necessity.
The arguments against EVs, while they may seem persuasive to some, are becoming increasingly marginalised in the face of overwhelming evidence of the benefits of electric vehicles and the urgent need for sustainable transport solutions. As the transition to electric vehicles continues to accelerate, the anti-EV narrative is likely to lose its relevance, overtaken by the compelling reality of a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future on the road.
Sources:
Nice research and a constructive, informative read. Nicely done.
Brilliant read