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EVs still have a lot of unknowns

January 20, 2023

Gov. Carney signed Senate Bill 21, an amendment to the Delaware Energy Act that will encourage the adoption of electric vehicles by creating more accessible charging stations throughout the state.

I decided to do research to see how viable EVs are at improving the environment. This comparison is to internal combustion engine vehicles. We are talking about the current technologies, primarily lithium-ion batteries.

But how logical are they?

You will have to pay an additional $10,000 to $50,000 for an EV in comparison to a gas-powered car, so there are high upfront costs.

What happens to the power grid when everyone is charging their EVs? The grid is already being taxed as it is.

Where is the power coming from to charge your EV? It is most likely from a plant that is burning coal (a fossil fuel). 

EVs have limited mileage compared to gasoline vehicles. There are videos of cars lined up during a holiday waiting to charge.

EVs don’t work well in blizzards and sub-zero temperatures. Lithium batteries won't charge if they get below 10 or 15 degrees (https://tinyurl.com/5avsef2p). 

A friend sent me a screenshot of an invoice in which a Volt had its battery replaced. The battery cost alone was $26,854. I found a website that quotes roughly $35,000! 

Lithium-ion batteries are highly toxic and will create a massive amount of hazardous waste.

People living in apartments or a big city will not be able to charge their car if they don’t have a garage.

EVs are more costly to insure.

What if a hurricane hits and you need to evacuate? Your battery might die if there are only limited routes out.

Floridians discovered from Hurricane Ian’s aftermath that saltwater causes EVs to catch fire and burn so hot that they are difficult to put out (https://tinyurl.com/tcuf5r5). What if your car is in your garage?

Sitting in an EV is like sitting in a microwave oven. They emit EMF radiation (https://tinyurl.com/yubpfec4).

The California state legislature has passed a bill that will outlaw the sale of gas-powered cars by the requirements of 35% by 2025 and 100% by 2035. Any vehicle powered by fossil fuels would be banned by the bill. Is this what Gov. Carney has in mind for Delaware?

Beware of legislation that demands compliance in a poorly crafted bill. Until the manufacturers can truly achieve a battery capable to traveling 1,000 miles and charge in less than an hour, I will have nothing to do with the experiment known as EV. 

William Sly
Millsboro

 

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