this post was submitted on 29 Nov 2024
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[–] BlackLaZoR@fedia.io 115 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

China’s sales of electric vehicles and hybrids have in fact reached a tipping point. They’ve accounted for more than half of retail passenger vehicle sales

If you have cheap electricity and cheap batteries, people will buy EVs. Colour me surprised.

[–] partial_accumen@lemmy.world 54 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

If you have cheap electricity and cheap batteries, people will buy EVs. Colour me surprised.

Cheap EVs is part of it, and that part is subsidies from the government, but China has also increase the registration cost of pure ICE vehicles. Yeah, you can still buy them, but they'll cost you a lot of extra money to register them to be legal to drive on the roads in China. On top of this, in major congestion areas, you have to get entered in a lottery to even get a license plate (ability to register a car). The government in China continues to reduce the number of ICE license plates available, and increases EV license plates. (source)

So its a lot more than just "cheap electricity and cheap batteries" in action in China causing this massive switch to EVs.

[–] Zorque@lemmy.world 19 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

And here I have to pay more to register my hybrid.

[–] partial_accumen@lemmy.world 13 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

And here I have to pay more to register my hybrid.

Same for my EV (double the hybrid registration cost in my state). However, that's because of how road taxes are collected on the sale of gasoline/diesel fuel. Its still overpaying on EV taxes though. For the same registration fee I pay on an EV ($200/year) I could drive over 15,000 miles on a gasoline car getting 30 miles to the gallon. I drive maybe 11,000/year so I'm overly taxed compared to ICE drivers.

[–] Zorque@lemmy.world 11 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

That's the excuse they give, yes. That doesn't mean it's why they do it, though.

[–] partial_accumen@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

Sure, one action can have multiple reasons and outcomes. I agree with it in part that I need to pay my fair share of road taxes. I also recognize that this is a relatively new market force, and highly accurate consumption-to-taxation isn't in place yet (again, for many reasons).

That doesn’t mean it’s why they do it, though.

Its not the only reason they do it.

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[–] BlackLaZoR@fedia.io 12 points 2 weeks ago

The government in China continues to reduce the number of ICE license plates available, and increases EV license plates. (source)

Afaik, they had (still have?) a massive air pollution issues in certain areas. This looks like attempt to alleviate these problems

[–] Aatube@kbin.melroy.org 5 points 2 weeks ago

Exactly this. Green license plates (EV-exclusive) are also a bit of a status symbol in China.

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[–] ytsedude@lemmy.world 68 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

I would love for this to happen, but it just seems to be another reason why Trump wants tariffs on foreign EVs--both Elon and the oil/car execs don't want clean, affordable vehicles! They only want us buying gas-guzzling tanks or deregulated, overpriced Teslas.

[–] ramenshaman@lemmy.world 24 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

I mean, I hate the guy but Tesla prices have dropped significantly over time and Tesla does a ton of battery R&D, which is good. And Tesla has done more for the EV charging infrastructure in the US than anyone else has. Even so, going forward I will never buy a Tesla, I'm hoping my next car will be an Aptera. More and more non-Tesla EVs are coming with the NACS port and can use the Tesla chargers, which is great. Non-Tesla chargers are few and far between. And generally pretty slow. But fuck Elon regardless.

[–] kameecoding@lemmy.world 12 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

Tesla introduced the fad of using an app for charging which other idiots promptly copied making the charging infrastructure a fucking nightmare.

Tesla introduced big screen few buttons which other car manufacturers copied, making a few model years of cars more dangerous than they have to be, thankfully manufacturers are rolling that shitty as trend back.

Tesla continues to make cars with shit reliability, and dangerous UX with no buttons or turning shit to touch buttons that should be that, e.g. the turning indicators.

In short fuck Tesla and Musk.

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[–] anomnom@sh.itjust.works 7 points 2 weeks ago

Tesla only dropped their price when the federal rebate was limited to lower price EVs (so no more rebates for luxury vehicles, which makes perfect sense).

He wants to go back to selling less quantity if higher priced (and much higher profit) cars. Just like the rest of the goddamn cars industry outside of China apparently.

[–] Badeendje@lemmy.world 15 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Maybe a silver lining is that this would free up these cars to be sold in other countries that have cities drowning in smog.. if cheaper EVs are available there it might dramatically improve the health of these cities and all their inhabitants..

[–] ytsedude@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

That's a good point. I guess that was pretty American of me to dismiss this entirely because of what's going on here.

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[–] microphone900@lemmy.ml 7 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

It's like they didn't learn a goddamn thing from the 70s and the better, cheaper, more fuel efficient cars imported from Japan.

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[–] filister@lemmy.world 63 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Can we also curb those big fat ugly SUVs in the rest of the world? They are not only more polluting but infinitely more dangerous.

[–] WhippetBowie@lemmy.world 28 points 2 weeks ago (8 children)

EVs are such a mess in North America. Unless I want a Tesla it feels like I can only get gigantic SUVs or expensive luxury cars.

I just want to replace my Mazda 3 with an electric equivalent

[–] Knoxvomica@lemmy.ca 12 points 2 weeks ago (6 children)

I don't know why everyone forgets one of the first EVS. Look at getting a Nissan leaf, they are awesome.

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[–] surph_ninja@lemmy.world 11 points 2 weeks ago

It’s intentional sabotage by the oil lobby.

[–] FrederikNJS@lemm.ee 11 points 2 weeks ago (5 children)
  • Renault Megane E-tech Electric
  • VW ID.3
  • Volvo EX30

And there's quite a lot more brands with EVs in that size bracket coming out in the near future

[–] hovercat@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Sadly none of those are available in the US except the EX30, and the starting MSRP is literally double that of something like the Mazda3 the OP mentioned.

[–] FrederikNJS@lemm.ee 7 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (5 children)

I wasn't aware that both the VW and Renault wasn't available in the US... That sucks. But yeah, the MSRP for EVs are generally quite a bit higher, but that goes for pretty much every size of car, but that is only a tiny bit of the whole picture. I also didn't know the price disparity was that big in the US for the Mazda and Volvo... But when you are looking at EVs you really need to look at the service and fuel/electricity costs too.

I live in Denmark, so obviously my experience will be very different. I recently switched from a Ford Fiesta 2016 (5-door hatchback, gasoline, medium-high trim) to a Hyundai Ioniq 5 (fully electric, crossover SUV, top trim), and I drive about 30,000 km per year (~ 18600 miles). And when you factor in the cost of the car loan, the service subscription, the insurance, and fuel costs, then the much larger, and much more luxurious Hyundai Ioniq 5 comes out to costing me about the same per month.

I did all the math before we bought the Ioniq 5, but unfortunately don't have all the numbers handy anymore. But the main factors are the MSRP cost and the fuel costs

Ford Fiesta 1.0 100 hp Titanium Fun (2016):

  • Price 160,000 DKK (~ $22,690), Loan came out to 1790 DKK per month (~ $254)
  • Gas costs per month ~ 2,200 DKK (~ $312)
  • Sum per month 3,990 DKK (~ $565)

Hyundai Ioniq 5 Long Range Ultimate (2023):

  • Price 405,000 DKK (~ $57,434), Loan comes out to 3559 DKK per month (~ $505)
  • Electricity costs per month ~ 400 DKK (~ $57)
  • Sum per month 3,959 DKK (~ $562)

So even though the cost was 2.5 times higher, it was about the same to own and drive. I have no idea how that math works out with gas and electricity prices in the US.

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[–] Carighan@lemmy.world 10 points 2 weeks ago

No they need to also be pushed off a cliff.

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[–] wizzor@sopuli.xyz 50 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

What's with the title?! Here's my alternative: China's EV boom makes a dent in fossil fuel consumption.

[–] Landsharkgun@midwest.social 23 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

It's Bloomberg. A rag for capitalists, by capitalists. Less fossil fuel use is bad for them because it hurts their portfolio.

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[–] bunchberry@lemmy.world 10 points 2 weeks ago

westoid media isn't allowed to admit China does anything good, so they have to frame everything negatively. Alternative possible headline would also be, "China's EV boom makes a dent in fossil fuel consumption, but at what cost?"

[–] surph_ninja@lemmy.world 10 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Do you know what the word “threatens” means?

You obviously don’t know how fast China’s been manufacturing cheap EV’s and solar panels. There’s a reason oil lobby owned politicians are trying to ban them from being imported.

[–] wizzor@sopuli.xyz 6 points 2 weeks ago

I may have heard.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 9 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

The biggest threat China presents to fossil fuel consumption is future economic growth. Putting 1.4B people into ICE personal vehicles would be a nightmare.

Their battery tech is going to spare the globe generations of future consumption. They're doing what Americans should have done 20 years ago, taking ICE engines off the market before they're built.

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[–] bitwolf@sh.itjust.works 44 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Primary reason I don't understand the call for "drill baby drill". We'll end up with oil and needing to sell it for much cheaper than anticipated because the demand is low.

[–] WanderingVentra@lemm.ee 13 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Ya I always hate when people say, "We'll always need oil!". I mean, maybe ya, but for every time we convert a car, or power plant, to electricity, or stop producing some plastic product, that reduces the overall demand. It's a good thing!

[–] bier@feddit.nl 6 points 2 weeks ago

We will for a long time, but the less we need the better. At some points we will replace plastics etc. But we don't have enough alternatives that make economic sense yet.

[–] filister@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago

As long as you have a cartel OPEC controlling the price you won't end up like that.

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[–] Leate_Wonceslace@lemmy.dbzer0.com 29 points 2 weeks ago (25 children)

Sometimes China does good things.

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[–] Sam_Bass@lemmy.world 24 points 2 weeks ago
[–] mojofrododojo@lemmy.world 22 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)
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[–] Blackmist@feddit.uk 6 points 2 weeks ago

It's a nice graph, but it's only a projection and I've seen those go to shit before.

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