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Breakout EV US Sales

image credit: EPA
Sandy Lawrence's picture
retired MD, I write and lecture on energy, climate, grid, and epidemiology

I post almost daily on science topics, dealing with energy systems, the climate system, the electric grid and epidemiology. Background is in academic medicine, but I have also been teaching in...

  • Member since 2021
  • 90 items added with 17,072 views
  • Mar 1, 2024
  • 1511 views

Canary: "Chart: Gas-powered cars are losing market share to EVs and hybrids." In 2023, traditional fossil-fueled cars dropped to 84% of total passenger vehicles sales in the US—the lowest ever. Contrariwise, sales of both fully electric cars + hybrids are climbing to new heights. "The change is driven in part by a surge in sales for hybrid vehicles with a gas-powered engine and an onboard battery but no plug, which together with plug-in hybrids made up nearly 10 percent of new car sales last year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration." Sadly, hybrids may burn less gas than a conventiona car, but they fail to offer a pathway to eliminating carbon pollution from our highways + roads. "Last year, despite some market difficulties, [EVs] accounted for 7 percent of new vehicle sales. The transportation sector accounts for over a quarter of American greenhouse gas emissions. Walkable cities, bike lanes, mass transit + all the other solutions to our reliance on fossil fuel cars require support as well. Once pure electric vehicles reach 15% of new vehicle sales, energy experts predict a tipping point will have been reached. Time is short + the water is rising. Electric bikes may be the gateway drug, but truly EVs are the future.

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Matt Chester's picture
Matt Chester on Mar 1, 2024

The timing is interesting because I thought the recent story had been that EVs hadn't been selling as well as the manufacturers expected in the past year or so. I wonder if that's about to turn around? 

Sandy Lawrence's picture
Sandy Lawrence on Mar 1, 2024

Main problem has been deficiencies in the charging infrastructure. Personally, I have had a number of experiences with level 3 chargers not being available, or having to call the 800 number so that they can 'reset' the device after I've tried multiple times. But I'm now in muy 11th yr as an EV driver, so this is old hat. Of course, at home I just plug in to my level 2 charger, usually charging at nite. We have enough solar that really the charge is functionally solar all the time.

Jim Stack's picture
Jim Stack on Mar 4, 2024

Batteries are dropping in price and lasting longer with million mike life. Complete recycling of end of life lithium is helping the materials needed to make new cells. Progress will make the tipping point very soon. 

Sandy Lawrence's picture
Sandy Lawrence on Mar 5, 2024

A point to remember is that an EV battery, once less competent to propel a car, can have a second life in stationary backup power. More importantly, all of the minerals + metals in the battery have not vacated the battery casing. Companies in the US are able to separate + retain + reuse 95% of the materials. And rebuild an anode + cathode for the next battery. A circular supply chain.

 

 

 

 

 

Sandy Lawrence's picture
Thank Sandy for the Post!
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