Electric, Hybrid, Self-driving Vehicles & Lithium Batteries

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⚡️ Hybrid cars have a moment ...

Data: S&P Global Mobility. Chart: Tory Lysik/Axios Visuals ? Electric vehicles get all the buzz. But many consumers are opting instead for hybrids — tiptoeing away from gasoline, Axios automotive expert Joann Muller reports. At $50,000, the average electric vehicle is still too expensive for many buyers. A lack of chargers remains a concern, too. Hybrids get great gas mileage and average less than $40,000, making them an attractive happy medium. ? Carmakers are now rethinking their offerings, at least in the short run. Ford's hybrid sales rose 75.2% in November, led by hybrid versions of the Maverick and F-150 pickups. The company is now planning to quadruple its hybrid offerings in the next few years. Toyota, already the hybrid leader, is doubling down. Its next-generation Camry — the best-selling sedan in the U.S.— will be available only as a hybrid.

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? ... as EVs hit milestone

Data: BloombergNEF. Chart: Axios Visuals Annual U.S. sales of purely electric vehicles have crossed the 1 million mark for the first time, Axios' Ben Geman writes from BloombergNEF data. Go deeper: A BNEF release + a detailed new report on EV markets push back against concerns about a drop in U.S. demand.

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? EV push is slow going

Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios

More than two years after President Biden signed legislation allocating $5 billion for a nationwide network of taxpayer-funded electric vehicle chargers, the first one finally opened last Friday in Ohio. Why it matters: Having convenient, reliable fast chargers along major highways is a key confidence-booster for people considering an electric car, Axios' Joann Muller writes. But the government's effort to supply them is moving at typical government speed, while the privately funded buildout of charging stations continues separately. That slow pace is making it harder to achieve Biden's ultimate goal of EVs making up half of all new cars sold by 2030. ? By the numbers: The U.S. will need 28 million home and public charging ports to support a potential 33 million plug-in electric vehicles by 2030, per the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory. With 60,000 public chargers — including only 8,560 fast chargers — available today, the country still has a long way to go.

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? Win your EV road trip

Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios

Getting over the river and through the woods might be challenging this holiday season if the sleigh you're driving is an electric vehicle, Axios transportation guru Joann Muller writes from Detroit. Why it matters: EV road trips require advance planning — especially in colder weather, which can significantly diminish battery range. Joann's tips: When calculating your departure, factor in charging time so you don't miss any holiday festivities. Know how many miles it'll take to get to your destination and where you're going to charge. Err on the side of caution when estimating how far a charge will take you: An EV can lose battery range just sitting out in the cold. Save time by setting up billing accounts on the major charging network apps before you go.

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BYD Posts Record Sales Quarter to Challenge Tesla at Own EV Game

Chinese automaker BYD Co. sold 526,409 fully electric vehicles in the fourth quarter, meaning Tesla Inc. will need a record showing to maintain its No. 1 status when it unveils sales figures on Tuesday.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-01/byd-posts-record-sales-quarter-to-challenge-tesla-at-own-ev-game?

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? Tesla dethroned as world's top EV maker

Data: FactSet, BYD. Chart: Axios Visuals China-based automaker BYD is the world's bestselling electric vehicle company after topping Tesla in Q4. Why it matters: This is more about BYD's rise than Tesla's struggles. BYD, backed by investor Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, is gaining in key international markets, Axios' Nathan Bomey and Ben Geman write. ? By the numbers: Tesla reported yesterday that it delivered 484,000 EVs in the fourth quarter, up 19.5% from a year earlier. BYD sold 526,000 battery-only vehicles in the same quarter. BYD's off-road Yangwang U8. Photo: Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images What's happening: "No one can match BYD on price," Dunne Insights analyst Michael Dunne writes, noting the company's September launch of the $11,500 BYD Seagull hatchback. Reality check: Tesla remains the world's leading seller of premium EVs — and isn't expected to face BYD in the U.S. anytime soon.

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This EV Battery Tech Could Make Lithium-Ion Obsolete

A new report analyzes patent data for 12 battery types and predicts which is most likely to disrupt the industry with ultra-fast-charging and next-level range.

https://www.pcmag.com/news/this-ev-battery-tech-could-make-lithium-ion-obsolete?

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America's EV whiplash

Illustration: Natalie Peeples/Axios

Some of the largest traditional automakers are experiencing electric vehicle growing pains and pulling back on production, Axios' Noah Bressner writes. Why it matters: Consumer demand is falling behind lofty projections drummed up by manufacturers and other car-industry stalwarts. What's happening: Ford announced today that it's cutting output of the battery-powered F-150 Lightning to make more Bronco SUVs and Ranger pickup trucks. The CEO of Stellantis — which owns Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep — told reporters today that the auto industry risked an EV "bloodbath" if a pricing war started by Tesla continues. Rental car giant Hertz said last week that it plans to sell 20,000 of its EVs and buy more gas-powered rentals. GM stopped selling its Chevy Blazer EV — a brand-new model — late last month because of charging and software issues. ?️ The big picture: State governments, automakers and environmental activists are also struggling to push "super drivers" responsible for the most carbon emissions into EVs, the N.Y. Times writes from a new report by Coltura, an environmental nonprofit. The top 10% of drivers in the U.S. account for more than one-third of the nation's gasoline use for private light-duty vehicles, according to the report. The tricky part: Many super drivers who live in rural areas have limited access to charging stations outside their homes. EVs can also struggle in cold weather. Charging takes longer and driving range falls to around 70%, Axios' Sareen Habeshian writes. ? Between the lines: The White House has unleashed a series of charging initiatives in recent days to ensure U.S. EV adoption doesn't fall off track, Axios Generate co-author Ben Geman writes.

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? Buggy software stalls EV switch

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

GM is racing to diagnose and fix software issues that have caused flickering screens, looping error messages and glitchy charging in some of its most important new electric vehicles, Axios' Joann Muller writes. Why it matters: Software bugs on your phone or laptop are an annoyance. A software snafu in a car could be life-threatening. What's happening: Multiple carmakers — including GM, VW, Volvo and Polestar — have delayed new EVs while they rethink their approach to software development. Most traditional automakers don't have the required software skills and are struggling to reorient their businesses. Keep reading ...

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This Lithium Mine May Launch the U.S. to Battery Dominance

The Salton Sea is rich in minerals that could help power electric vehicles. However, environmental experts are still concerned it could have devastating consequences.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/this-salton-sea-lithium-mine-may-launch-the-us-to-battery-dominance?

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Why Electric Cars Are Built for Cities, But Only Booming in the Suburbs

EVs thrive in areas where home charging is easy, but the technology has more revolutionary potential as a small, efficient form of urban transit. Here's how we get there.

https://www.pcmag.com/opinions/why-electric-cars-are-built-for-cities-but-only-booming-in-the-suburbs?

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? Mapped: EV charging costs in Texas

By Alan Neuhauser

Data: Stable Auto; Note: Does not include Tesla charging stations; Map: Erin Davis/Axios Visuals Electric vehicle drivers in Texas face some of the highest charging rates at public stations. Why it matters: Charging an EV at a public charging site in Texas costs about three times as much as in Nebraska. The gap suggests EV charging companies are still figuring out how to price a top-off. By the numbers: It costs an average of 50 cents per kilowatt-hour to charge an electric car at a public charging station in Texas. The national average is 45 cents per kWh, according to data from EV charger software developer Stable Auto. Context: A typical EV with 300 miles of range usually takes about 75-100 kWh to go from empty to full. Between the lines: Charging networks such as Electrify America, EVgo and ChargePoint consider a host of factors in setting their charging price — not least the local electricity rate. Yes, but: The big gaps in prices among states suggest something is amiss, Stable argues. Gasoline prices also differ across state lines, but not as greatly as EV charging rates. What's next: More networks in the past six months have started adopting Tesla's variable pricing model, which accounts for the site location, time of day, and amount of power a station is delivering.

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? U.S. is just 10% of global EV market

Reproduced from International Energy Agency. Chart: Axios Visuals The International Energy Agency, in an outlook out this morning, sees full EVs and plug-in hybrids together accounting for one in five light-duty vehicles — cars, SUVs and pickups — sold globally this year, Axios' Ben Geman writes. 60% of those sales will be in China, 25% in Europe and 10% in the U.S. ? By 2030, almost 1 in 3 cars on the roads in China is set to be electric — and almost 1 in 5 in both the U.S. and Europe. Explore the data ...

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? EVs get loud

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Electric cars are a whole lot quieter than gas-powered engines — but some drivers want the noise back. The electric version of the Dodge Charger comes with a system of speakers that pump out fabricated exhaust noise, Axios' Nathan Bomey reports. Aftermarket modifications can also dial up fake engine noise in Ford's electric Mustang. ? Between the lines: EVs accelerate more quickly than even the fastest gas-powered engines. But some consumers don't just want a powerful engine — they want the old, familiar signifiers of a powerful engine. "It's funny in one sense," said Ivan Drury, an analyst at car research site Edmunds. "Are they also going to have an aromatizer diffuse a gasoline scent? Is it going to give you a little shimmy in the morning when you start it up?"

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Small, well-built Chinese EV called the Seagull poses a big threat to the US auto industry

LIVONIA, Mich. (AP) — A tiny, low-priced electric car called the Seagull has American automakers and politicians trembling.

https://apnews.com/article/china-byd-auto-seagull-auto-ev-cae20c92432b74e95c234d93ec1df400?

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Jeep reveals its first EV for America
Jeep, widely known for making rugged off-road vehicles, has unveiled its first fully electric SUV for the North American market.

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Charging "trees" could solve cities' biggest electric car problem

A New York startup called Gravity hopes to plant a network of high-powered electric curbside "trees" across the city that can recharge electric cars in as little as five minutes.

https://www.axios.com/2024/05/31/ev-charging-trees-gravity-google?

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Thieves are targeting EV charging stations The intent is to steal cables, which contain copper wiring, as the price of copper is near a record high on global markets.The stolen cables often disable entire stations. For the EV owners, the predicament can be exasperating and stressful. Read more.

Why this matters: Broken-down chargers have emerged as the latest obstacle for U.S. automakers in their strenuous effort to convert more Americans to EVs despite widespread public anxiety about a scarcity of charging stations. About 4 in 10 U.S. adults say they believe EVs take too long to charge or don’t know of any charging stations nearby.   America’s major automakers have made heavy financial bets that buyers will shift away from combustion engines and embrace EVs. But if finding a charging station doesn’t necessarily mean finding functioning cables, it becomes one more reason for skeptical buyers to stick with gasoline-fueled or hybrid vehicles.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ AP-NORC/EPIC poll: Many Americans are still shying away from EVs despite Biden’s push   Europe wants affordable electric vehicles from China. But not at the cost of its own auto industry   WATCH: Thieves are seen stealing cables from EV charging stations

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? U.S. resists Chinese EVs

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

Trade tensions between China and the West are slowing the global transition to electric vehicles, Axios' Courtenay Brown reports. In recent weeks, Canada and Europe have joined the U.S. in pushing back against imported Chinese electric cars. Why it matters: Cheap electric cars made in China might convince price-conscious consumers to ditch their gas guzzlers sooner. But politicians in Western countries also want to protect their own clean energy industries, in which they're investing billions. "We want to contain China, even if it comes at the expense of addressing the world's climate change crisis," Stephen Roach, the former chair of Morgan Stanley Asia, tells Axios. Few China-made cars are exported to the U.S. and Canada now. President Biden's new triple-digit tariff suggests U.S. officials want to keep it that way. Keep reading.

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? 1 for the road: Electric race car

The new EV unveiled at NASCAR's Chicago Street Race. Photo: Carrie Shepherd/Axios NASCAR unveiled its first electric racecar — a $1.5 million prototype built by Chevrolet, Ford, Toyota and Swedish-Swiss tech company ABB, Axios Chicago's Carrie Shepherd writes. The car — which looks more like a crossover than a traditional race car — is "ideal for road courses and short oval tracks" with its regenerative brakes, NASCAR says. Short video ...

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? New car etiquette

Illustration: Natalie Peeples/Axios

While electric cars are becoming more common, unestablished and rapidly changing social norms about vehicle charging are befuddling new owners, Axios auto expert Joann Muller writes. Why it matters: One of EV owners' biggest complaints is about others "hogging" space at crowded charging stations by leaving their car plugged in even after their battery has been fully charged. Another gripe: People who snag the highest-output chargers, even if their car can't accept power at the fastest rates. It's like driving a Prius at 50 mph in the left lane — all it does is tick off other motorists. It's usually not malice driving such behavior. People just don't know any better. ? Zoom in: One charging network operator, Electrify America, is testing a strategy that would automatically end charging sessions when a customer's battery hits 85%. Why 85%? It's close to the threshold when charging automatically slows down anyway to protect batteries from overheating.

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? Ford recalibrates its EV plans

Illustration: Gabriella Turrisi/Axios

Ford is delaying a planned electric pickup truck by 18 months and killing plans for a three-row electric SUV, Axios' Joann Muller reports. After losing billions of dollars on electric vehicles in recent years, Ford now says it won't launch any EVs unless they can be profitable in the first 12 months. ? Zoom out: Ford's electric F-150 was widely seen as a game-changer with the potential to help EVs catch on more widely, but the overall transition has slowed. As Ford rolls out its next generation of EVs, it now plans to lean into market segments where it already dominates: commercial vans and pickup trucks. In highly competitive segments like SUVs, Ford will offer a wider portfolio of electric, hybrid and gasoline vehicles. Go deeper.

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EV strategy

Ford is making big changes to its electric vehicle plans, focusing on hybrids and affordability. The automaker said customers are increasingly price-conscious and range-anxious.

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?Ford's new EV fear: China

Ford CEO Jim Farley is changing his EV strategy to combat an "existential threat" from  China's electric carmakers, The Wall Street Journal reports in "What Scared Ford's CEO in China."

• Farley is narrowing "Ford's focus in China to commercial vehicles, rather than trying to compete with local manufacturers in its consumer market, and "racing to fend off the threat of Chinese EVs elsewhere — in part by borrowing from them," The Journal adds.

Why it matters: Ford's target is no longer Tesla. Even Musk is afraid of China. China has all the leverage because so much of the EV supply chain is still there, despite all the Biden-funded manufacturing incentives, Axios transportation correspondent Joann Muller tells me.

Behind the scenes: Shortly after a May trip to China, Farley "arranged to have Chinese EVs shipped to Michigan for executives and directors to check out and sit in. The models were displayed in a Ford conference center near its headquarters. During board-meeting coffee breaks, directors took turns fiddling with cars," The Journal writes.

• "Farley often reminds his executive team of how Toyota and other Japanese car companies grabbed market share from the U.S. automakers in the 1980s and 1990s, followed in recent decades by Korea's Hyundai and Kia, which have found success with EVs. 'I've seen this movie before.'"

The bottom line: "Farley sees Chinese EVs as an immediate threat in Europe and other overseas markets, and a long-term risk in Ford's profit engine of North America, regardless of protectionist measures."

• Keep reading (gift link — no paywall).

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? Car thieves don't want EVs

Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios

Car thieves aren't very interested in stealing electric vehicles, Axios' Nathan Bomey reports. More than 1 million vehicles were stolen in the U.S. in 2023. Four of the six least-stolen models were EVs, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. ? Between the lines: Experts aren't sure why this is the case, but they have a few theories — mainly that EVs are confusing. The tech in EVs is still unfamiliar for a lot of people, and thieves won't have the apps or keycards that some models require. And because the cars need to charge, they're more likely to be kept in a garage or close to a house, making them less attractive targets.