EV Myths, Confusion, & Actuality — EV Battery Prices, Battery Recycling, & EV Charging

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From EV charging myths to EV battery myths, there are a number of myths to go round. Electrical automobiles are on the precipice of changing into mainstream, however they aren’t mainstream but. In case you keep in mind the well-known tech adoption lifecycle chart, you’re not reaching the “early majority” till above 15% market share (the US is at 7.5% BEV market share, however that in itself is deceiving, as California is at 21.4% BEV adoption and accounts for 33.8% of US BEV registrations — that means BEV adoption is nicely beneath 7.5% in most locations within the nation). With the “late majority” and “laggards,” and even with the “early majority,” there’s a number of misinformation and worry mongering scaring folks away from the “new” tech.

In a latest episode of CleanTech Discuss, Milad Davoodi, COO of Xcelerate Auto, spoke with Jo Borras of CleanTechnica about EV evolution over the previous decade, EV myths, new EV patrons and the altering EV market, and far more.  Hear in for lots of enjoyable, some EV info you in all probability weren’t conscious of, and how you can proceed rising the EV market.

Initially, observe that Milad was the primary Tesla worker in Texas! Approach again in 2011, he was employed after which helped Tesla to open its third retail location, or gallery. The primary one was opened in Santana Row, California. The second was in Park Meadows, Colorado. Then, the third one, which he helped arrange, was within the Houston Gallery (I feel he means The Galleria). There’s far more on his historical past at Tesla; how he met KJ Gimbel, the founder and CEO of Xcelerate Auto; and previous vehicles he and Jo had. (There are just a few severe automobile man tangents on this pod.)

Concerning EV myths, they touched on the truth that some early EV myths was that they had been gradual and weak and small. Tesla blew that fable out of the water, and Milad was part of that when working to promote vehicles in Texas, the place he emphasised they need to give attention to efficiency, efficiency, efficiency.

Naturally, they moved on to charging myths, misinformation, or just misunderstanding. Jo highlighted the upper energy capability that charging has been shifting towards. “We at the moment are attending to the purpose the place it takes about as a lot time to ‘replenish’ your EV with electrons because it takes to replenish your inside combustion automobile with fuel. You recognize, you cease on a freeway relaxation cease, you plug right into a Supercharger, you go in, you utilize the amenities, you get a drink on the comfort retailer, you get again out to your automobile — that’s quarter-hour and also you’ve obtained 250 miles of vary. In case you do this in an inside combustion automobile, you’re nonetheless standing on the pump for five or 10 minutes — assuming there’s an open pump once you get there — and then you definitely’re nonetheless going to the amenities, you’re nonetheless going into the comfort retailer. So now we’re on the level the place that really takes longer than charging.”

Milad then famous that he has timed it, and it’s now slower for him to cease at a Buc-ee’s in a fuel automobile and go away after gassing up and doing every little thing he’s there to do than it’s for him to cease at one in a Tesla and go away after charging and doing every little thing else he’s there to do.

Additionally they talked about common charging that individuals can do whereas purchasing or at work — and the truth that you actually don’t even want dwelling charging when you have charging stations at work or on the grocery retailer you go to.

Additionally they focus on how lengthy EVs final, how lengthy EV batteries final, and the way a lot long-term upkeep and restore EVs want — one thing Xcelerate is beautifully conscious of and targeted on. One key part, in fact, is the battery. Right here’s what Milad needed to say about battery prices and eventual degradation: “The primary lithium-ion batteries we had been utilizing (for EVs) are not the identical ones we’re utilizing now,” he famous. “In 2020, a 100 kWh battery value lower than half the price of an 85 kWh battery did in 2012, and it weighed much less. So it went additional, it weighed much less, and it was cheaper — whereas that first battery was nonetheless beneath guarantee.” Nice perspective there! “So let’s say you personal a 3 or a Y, the place you’re not a $100,000 automobile proprietor, proper? You’re extra of a standard individual, that actually possibly stretched to purchase a used Mannequin 3 or a used Mannequin Y — that are clients we see on a regular basis making an attempt to purchase XCare, since you purchase a two- or three-year-old used Mannequin Y, these are the belongings you’re excited about.” He notes {that a} new battery in a type of new automobiles prices $16,000 to $17,000 right now, however then provides, “However the place’s that going to be in 8 years?” The entire trade is scaling up globally, bringing down prices.

Then there’s additionally battery recycling. These batteries might be value some huge cash even when they’re “not adequate for an electrical automobile.” The overwhelming majority of the supplies in these batteries — greater than 90% of them — can be utilized once more in a brand new battery. Milad talks concerning the rising battery recycling trade a bit extra. “The steel doesn’t deteriorate. The anodes and the cathodes, there’s simply — the cost deteriorates over time, proper, however the steel consistency remains to be there. They break down the steel componentry of those battery packs; they basically ‘re-energize’ them — simply re-energize the anodes and the cathodes — and put them again into circulation to make extra batteries. So there might be a time the place we’re going to have extra used automobiles in circulation than new vehicles, particularly EVs, the place we’re gonna shut the loop! Mining just isn’t going to be a factor anymore. And, from my standpoint, being one of many creators of XCare and proudly owning this guarantee that now 1000’s of individuals have, is the value as soon as we shut the loop goes to be pennies to the current-day greenback, which was pennies to the earlier greenback.” They’re good factors.

“On the size of scalability, within the realm of scalability, we’re simply now reducing the floor of the place that is gonna be in, I feel, in lower than a decade. I feel within the subsequent 5–8 years, we’re going to be near seeing that that now circle of battery manufacturing and recyclability goes to begin closing in.”

There’s far more within the episode. Give it a full hear.