'Mayhem' at EV repair shop as more early adopters experience battery death

More commonly than ever before, batteries in early-model electric vehicles are dying, and as a result, EV experts said drivers needing replacements are getting sticker shock.
Carl Medlock, owner of Medlock and Sons on Delridge Way in Seattle, said one early EV adopter he knows, a Washington woman, was visiting her daughter in Oregon when the car's battery died completely.
"The car shut off in her daughter's driveway," said Medlock. "She was gonna get the $17,000 repair. The car books out at $20,000, and she just didn't feel like it was worth it. So they walked away from it."

[@reyperez3424]

97% of car buyers don’t know what they are buying and this is a perfect example.

[@Deploracle]

They are buying a touchscreen that they can travel in.

[@stefan2796]

Tablet on wheels. Same rate of depreciation as all other consumer electronics.

[@hokroeger]

New EV batteries last on average for about 300,000 miles. Far more than the average life of an ICE car. And they are being recycled. Dirty fuel burned by an ICE car can't be recycled, nor recovered. It will last forever in the environment.

[@whoever_you_want_me_to_be]

That's all they care about

[@josephgaviota]

But, but, but ... _SAVING THE PLANET_ and stuff.

[@user-dw1ls3rp1l]

The sustainability wasn't known? That's a total fallacy. I knew about this in 30 years ago when my RC car batteries wouldn't hold a charge after 50 or so cycles. I then got a gasoline powered one and it ran forever. I still have it.

[@BLUELEADER78]

Exactly. I'm tired of all these "experts" who are shocked when the information we all know becomes new knowledge for the "experts." "The batteries are recyclable..." so is plastic but 90% of plastic never gets recycled. It was doomed to fail.

[@surelyyoujokemeinfailure7531]

Bingo. An EV is like a vehicle with a small fuel tank that can only take a limited number of refuelings before it stops working entirely. Except this "fuel tank" is well over half the total cost of the vehicle. Doesn't make sense.

[@vg23air]

we all knew, they ignored it for the bigger push to create the farce

[@mikeb4708]

Same with cell phones. Why do most people get a new cell phone? Usually because the battery life has degraded.

[@blazingstar9638]

Yup Maybe that’s why he scratched his neck when talking about the battery studies, because he was second guessing in his head. Although what he said was technically true

[@YESITSWILL]

$20k for a new battery, 20 cents for a book of matches.

[@saxon-mt5by]

That's $20k for the battery, but there's still the labor cost of changing it.

[@encinobalboa]

You don't need a book of matches. It will by itself.

[@papayuki3590]

and if that car goes up in smoke .. the environmental damage is far far worse then a gas car and takes 2 to 3 times more to put out these cars re not ready as the tech is just not there fully

[@fredEVOIX]

@@saxon-mt5by I checked several from supercars to city cars if you count 33% of the car price brand new you won't be far it's always in that range

[@jamesblackwell5141]

Or, make some money selling it for scrap or parts.

[@lindapindabelinda3570]

Everybody who’s ever had a cell phone has done the long-term study on batteries. They become useless fairly quickly.

[@stefan2796]

For EVs: 8-10 years on average. Just after the factory warranty expired...giving EVs a massive amount of depreciation; complete write off in 10 years max. So this is supposed to be "green"??? Don't think so.

[@softwarephil1709]

And where do the dead batteries go?

[@ChristianWagner888]

I have changed plenty of iPhone batteries myself after a few years, but I would not try that on an EV. My longest lasting battery was on an iPad - almost 10 years. So EV batteries are only slightly more durable than device batteries.

[@ronbennett7885]

@@stefan2796 Effectively they're leasing their EVs for 8-10 years. Just that many don't realize this. Compounding matters is all the proprietary software controlling the battery system. When it says the battery is done, it's done. No simple, affordable workarounds.

[@stefan2796]

@@softwarephil1709 Part of the pack can be used again, for energy storage. No idea where the "bad" cells go.

[@williamquemuel7824]

It doesn’t do the environment any good if you have to junk an EV because of the battery.

[@closrod335]

You didn’t hear .. you could recycle the old battery and just purchase a newer one … ur also talking about the very first EV ever … Like we didn’t have problems when we started having the first cell phones ?? How about the first ever motor vehicles?

[@mrtee3477]

@@closrod335 THey, in the US, instead of recycling, they often ship waste to third world countries where impoverished children end up doing the hazardous work.

[@WheelieMedia]

@@closrod335 it wasn't the first EV ever. also, we don't know if these batteries all have this issue we might see in 2035 brand-new teslas now coming in with the same issue.

[@perrycarditi5]

@@closrod335 recycle, you mean like all the other recycling that allegedly takes place with plastic, aluminum, steel, etc. that kind of recycling? Where’s the power come from in Washington state that charges these batteries anyway? Don’t hear much talk about that energy source.

[@randallsimmons391]

@@closrod335 Recycling of Lithium-type batteries is a fallacy. Once Lithium is depleted, it cannot be recovered. Bombarding it with more Ions does nothing so the only thing "recyclable" is the wiring and frame. Welcome to reality.

[@vampirejesus8170]

Just remember all that money you saved on gas. Well, now you get to use it to replace the battery. There is no cost savings for an ev.

[@edgarpoe517]

Heavy metal mining for all those batteries is wildly destructive to the environment, too.

[@user-jb2om7cm8m]

The money saved on gas probably wouldn't cover the home charger installation, far less a new battery!

[@TurdFerguson149]

My Tesla is 8 years old and has 200k miles on the original battery that still has 92% capacity (so it should last several more years), at this point I have saved over $40k on gas alone.

[@bentelbow2922]

@@TurdFerguson149 SURE BUD.. .lOLOLOLOL... IF YOU HAVE TO LIE AT LEAST DO IT WITH CONVICTION.

[@duckling4393]

​@@TurdFerguson149LIAR

[@reelshawnbradly3069]

I can buy a LOT of gasoline for $20,000 even at $5.00/gallon for a car that will run 300,000 miles and cost about $6000 to put a new engine in it...

[@encinobalboa]

I can buy a $10,000 ICE and keep it running with junkyard parts I pull myself. I'm doing my part to keep the planet clean.

[@MatthewBerginGarage]

@@encinobalboa That is the way. Reuse is one of the three R's

[@MrSchn3ll]

And you don't need to worry about not being able to find fuel, and when taking a long road trip it can be completed in half the time!

[@snowyowlz5992]

Absolutely!

[@gregfawcett5152]

@@encinobalboa I have a brother that thinks the same way you do...I asked my brother where does the electricity come from to power the cars? His answer was "The Batteries".

[@JT_70]

Senator John Kennedy: “If electric cars are so swell, how come the government has to pay people to drive them?”

[@Erosis]

You probably didn't listen to the response then.

[@brandonsmith2299]

What was the response? Your probably a Biden supporter too aren’t you?

[@terryteramotojr]

If I recall correctly a repair that costs just as much if not more than the car is worth makes it essentially totalled.

[@StoneyRerootkit]

Your Pricy EV Totaled!?!? That's How The Insurance Companies Feel About It😮😂💩🤡🚧🦍💢

[@bobroberts2371]

Are you aware of the gas cars that get scrapped due to engine or transmission issues? I'm guessing not.

[@terryteramotojr]

@@bobroberts2371 are you aware that the average transmission or engine does not cost $20k? And that usually when the car is scraped it's because it's so old that spending $3k - $4k on an engine isn't worth it anymore when the same car can be bought used for less? Meaning your argument is definitely not valid on an ice car that's similar in age to a Tesla? I'm guessing not.

[@bobroberts2371]

@@terryteramotojr 3 or 4 K will get you a junkyard engine or transmission and a back alley install on a car that might be worth 3 to 4 K. Modern EVs are still relatively new compared to the evolution of a gas car, improvements will be made. I guess you are forgetting that in the 1950's , any car over 50,000 miles was getting near retirement.

[@softwarephil1709]

When repair is greater than remaining value, the insurance company totals it out.

[@brianszymanski2971]

Keeping my old truck that has 318,000 smiles. New is not always better.

[@penedrador]

Seems like you were very happen very often, but how much did it run? ;)

[@simonecipriano]

@@brianszymanski2971 a lot of smiles.

[@Dat_Sun]

This is the beginning of a massive environmental impact

[@EllieMaes-Grandad]

The cost of all the expensive virtue-signalling has still to fully impact national economies.

[@bobroberts2371]

When you are pushing for gas cars over EV, do you take into account the environmental impact of extracting oil, transporting, refining, transporting to a gas station? I guess you have heard of the recent truck tankers crashing , burning and melting bridges causing massive disruption. Do you take into account the oil used in the engine over the cars life time?

[@Dat_Sun]

@bobroberts2371 Yes, I consider everything.

[@bobroberts2371]

@@Dat_Sun So you accept all of the environmental disasters associated with extracting and providing fuel for gas cars?

[@Dat_Sun]

@bobroberts2371 No, not all of them. For example, I drive a practical pickup truck. It's a 1970s model, gets 32 mpg, weighing 2140lbs and having 90hp makes it just right for 99.99% the tasks at hand, an impressive payload of about it's own weight depending on what country it was sold in. It's little teeny 13-inch pizza cutter tires are a fraction of the size of most EV tires and last beyond warranteed miles often 65k miles. Its initial footprint was small, and it has lasted a lifetime, showing no signs of slowing down, it could be maintained indefinitely, just like we see old military aircraft, for example. But a Ram TRX, f150 raptor, or anything with excessive plastics, size, hp, tq, weight, tire size, or luxury is a waste of resources, ev or ice. A practical Ford Ranger sized ev truck with standardized, easily swappable, and maintainable battery banks is completely within our technological abilities and manufacturing capabilities. For some reason, they'd rather sink untold dollars into manufacturing 1000 HP gigantic SUV's and trucks we don't have the grid capacity for. In my opinion, just like this whole reply, for electric vehicles to be successful, they need to downsize dramatically and abandon luxury performance electric vehicles.

[@patreilly6826]

There goes the fallacy that EV’s require “Little or No Maintenance”.

[@stefan2796]

They don't "need" a lot of maintenance, because they are totalled relatively fast.

[@penedrador]

​@@stefan2796 no need for maintenance if you just buy new every other year. Because we love the environment so much, because we drive EVs...

[@frotobaggins7169]

Price those special tires tesla uses once, see how much money you save. lol Heaven forbid you get in an accident, Tesla's are crazy expensive to repair.

[@jogmas12]

$20,000 in one fell swoop! That’s more than what I paid in required maintenance in all the years of my 20 year old gasoline car

[@artphotognh]

Little or no maintenance, because the EV must be totaled after the first fender-bender.

[@thumperjdm]

So, EV cars are sold on the guise of being more "environmentally friendly" than ICE cars. But, when you have to scrap a battery pack, and dispose of those raw, contaminated materials, is the EV still more environmentally friendly in the long-run? I doubt it.

[@safeandeffectivelol]

They have to mine, transport, and process 500,000 pounds of earth to get enough lithium for one EV battery. That doesn't even include all of the other rare earth metals needed to make the batteries.

[@imzjustplayin]

The materials are recycled like any other car.

[@safeandeffectivelol]

@@imzjustplayin Jun 1, 2022 - According to the US Department of Energy (DOE), less than 5% of lithium-ion batteries were collected and recycled in 2019.

[@imzjustplayin]

@@safeandeffectivelol a lot has changed since 2019.

[@safeandeffectivelol]

@@imzjustplayin Chemistry and physics are still the same. The batteries aren't being recycled because it's too expensive. Can be recycled isn't the same as is being recycled.

[@jtjtrs8806]

20k for a part in a vehicle!! That's the biggest load of you know what ,

[@jeanhilo1913]

Nissan qashqai official dealer engine replacment 16k and its an old car, wont even start to talk about new BMW or Audi and Tesla have waranty 8 years on battery and drive unit, This video is load of crap! These are Tesla roadsters the most expensive car now from Tesla, sooo if you can buy that you can buy a new battery, because these Roadsters definitely doesn't have a waranty anymore!

[@jtjtrs8806]

@jeanhilo1913 rebuilt engine price range 2500 hundred to 4000 thousand , new from 4000 thousand to 7000 thousand , no where near 20 thousand,

[@jeanhilo1913]

@@jtjtrs8806 ive just said official dealer i didnt said in garage! And new cars doesnt cost 7000 to rebuild its even more! Atleast not in EU! Also dont compare Tesla with 500hp to a Toyota avensis! lets be clear on that! it two different cars!

[@unlisted9494]

EVERYONE knew this. This has been the case since the first prius came out.

[@garbagevision9515]

Prius batteries (except the prime models) use NiMh batteries, are generally air-cooled and have a lower risk of overheating issues. For many of them the replacement cost isn't bad and can sometimes be done by a DIY mechanic with the right tools and know-how.

[@georgepelton5645]

Prius has a small battery that is not so expensive to replace, about $1,000 or so.

[@yo2trader539]

Toyota started researching hybrid technology in the 1980s and first introduced the Prius in the Japanese market in the late 1990s. It's why Toyota has sufficient data on hybrid batteries, and why Toyota can sell hybrid models at the same price range as ICE vehicles. And Toyota almost exclusively used high-grade Panasonic batteries for their Prius. Which is also why Toyota's current warranty on hybrids is pretty long. There are after-market "rebuilt" batteries, but the OEM battery will always be completely new and reliable.

[@flashnmb1]

What does that tell you about the intelligence of a population that can claim their the largest consumer of the EV Koolaid?

[@HumansAreBots]

I spend 100-150 per month on gas. That’s 15k over 10 years. All those savings wiped out by a battery replacement 💀

[@barackblows1942]

The electricity to charge the BEV is not free. 💸💸💸💸💸

[@rko1914]

@@barackblows1942 Mine is. I have free unlimited supercharging for life and I charge with solar at home.

[@DaveEPie]

Neighbor has a model 3 Tesla- He got flat tires in 2 tires on a road trip. The tire store did not have those specific tires in stock. He waited 2 days in a 100$ a night hotel. Then the tires alone where like 500 each. Then the hotel did not have a charging station- he literally has to have a diesel powered flat bed - tow him to a charging station. Another 100 bucks. At least. What would have been a day trip- took 3 days and 1500 $ . I really did not feel sorry for the tools. They are for 100 mile round trips in a metro area- That leaves out 99% Of the western US.

[@RxPharmer]

I replaced my tires on my Model 3 for $800 with regular tires last summer. Cheaper than the previous 2 sports cars I had and the 3 has way more torque. You don't have to put "special" tires on them.

[@frotobaggins7169]

@@RxPharmer the correct, manufacturer recommended tires are special tires with low rolling resistance, higher wear resistance and higher load ratings. Any one can put the wrong tires on their car. But your new, cheap tires will wear out faster than the specified tires due to the load and higher torque of the electric motor. In the end, it STILL costs you more. I paid 600 for 4 new tires, the correct ones, for my 30 year old truck and they last years. So tires for your compact car cost you $200 more than the huge tires for my old truck. lol Yup, you're saving up a storm.

[@RxPharmer]

@@frotobaggins7169 Nope, try again. The car came with normal old summer Pirelli performance tires. You can put any tire on an EV as long as it fits the wheel dimensions and the speed rating. In 70,000 miles since 2021, I've replaced tires one time. You should probably do a little more research. My compact car does 0-60 in 3 seconds flat and your truck probably gets there in about 12 seconds, so yes, I need a tire than can handle that, but it doesn't have to be expensive. I would never buy a 30 year old vehicle though so cost comparison wouldn't make sense. I wouldn't buy a car older than 5 years old for that matter because I don't care for the headache.

[@frotobaggins7169]

@@RxPharmer From Tesla site: Tesla T-Mark Tesla approved tires are identified by the "T-mark" on the tire sidewall, which indicates a specific tire model's progression according to Tesla specifications. For example, a T1 Michelin Primacy is newer than a T0 Michelin Primacy, but is not necessarily newer than other models of T0 tires.

[@RxPharmer]

@@frotobaggins7169 The T-mark is an OEM designation. Just about every car manufacturer is going to put something like that in their manual. It frees them from liability and it is their recommendation because they are not going to test every tire on the market. Every car I've owned I've put the non-OEM tire on as a replacement. It's fine though. You want to stick with your 30 year old truck, that's great. When you go to replace said truck, you're gonna be shocked when you see what new and used trucks cost now.

[@walterhartman3275]

"Software Updates" = they screwed them up worse and charged you for it.

[@johnlesoudeur3653]

Apple's software updates reduced battery capability and slowed their phones down...then they were found out.

[@JS-nf1sn]

They are free. It updates automatically.

[@walterhartman3275]

@@JS-nf1sn - Not to quick on satire, are you? You might be an idiot.

[@AntoineWilliams7118]

If you’re buying a Chinese product, what do you expect? Have you ever bought Chinese batteries on Amazon? They last for two hours and then they were useless.

[@walterhartman3275]

@@AntoineWilliams7118 European and American now too. What did you expect? What planet are you on?

[@s0nnyburnett]

WHO COULD HAVE KNOWN! Everyone who ever used a battery for any device.

[@desmondjefferson2127]

CALLED IT!!!! They had no plan for this AT ALL!!

[@I.Odnamra]

That was always the argument for as long as I remember going back to 2012.

[@kennewman3497]

A O C AND BIDEN BRAINS = 0 -🤔😂

[@fema_camper]

The SUPER scary part... it's all part of their plan!

[@desmondjefferson2127]

So then the question is, they knew they were making disposable cars passing as a long term solution for the environment

[@AntoineWilliams7118]

If you’re buying a Chinese product, what do you expect? Have you ever bought Chinese batteries on Amazon? They last for two hours and then they were useless.

[@softwarephil1709]

Where are all those abandoned cars and batteries going? What an environment catastrophe.

[@user-zf3xb3qx8w]

this garage is loaded up with them because even in the industry he does't know where to get rid of them, if abandoned. junk yards today need title, and they need demand, or don't want the vehicle even if free.

[@brent4073]

Funny how the EV owners dont want to be green and pay the $20k to keep their car out of a landfill. They just want to be green on a new purchase, fixing an item to be green isnt fun for them

[@softwarephil1709]

@@brent4073 Exactly. They aren't concerned with the environmental destruction caused by mining for the minerals. And they aren't concerned with what happens to the battery at end of life. They blissfully cruise around feeling virtuous from no tailpipe emissions without thinking about the smokestack at the power plant generating their electricity.

[@AntoineWilliams7118]

If you’re buying a Chinese product, what do you expect? Have you ever bought Chinese batteries on Amazon? They last for two hours and then they were useless.

[@jimmurphy5355]

Redwood materials in Nevada has built a billion dollar battery recycling plant. It is up and running. They could recycle the batteries from those old Teslas.

[@shwngbr]

Welcome to the green utopia.

[@jamram9924]

It’s green alright, those dollars bills flying out of their bank accounts 😮😮😮

[@johnchandler1687]

And the green grasshoppers instead of red beef. 😊😅😂

[@shwngbr]

@@johnchandler1687 Yummy!

[@AntoineWilliams7118]

If you’re buying a Chinese product, what do you expect? Have you ever bought Chinese batteries on Amazon? They last for two hours and then they were useless.

[@rontheoracle]

Hertz agrees with all these ex EVs' owners' decision.

[@jeanhilo1913]

Hertz doesnt even explain to people how to drive an EV, which is a different car, thats the problem!

[@michaelnguyen823]

Yet Hertz just made the news for charging a renter $277 for gas when he rented an EV. GFY, Hertz!

[@bentelbow2922]

these people driving these cars should pay more for their electric use.

[@softwarephil1709]

They should put down a deposit to cover battery disposal.

[@JeffreySmith7777]

Yea, ahhhh. Pepperidge Farm remembers when scientists said steel, glass, wood bad, use plastic. How's that working out Fer you?😅

[@Rashnak66]

"use plastic. How's that working out Fer you?" actually pretty well! I dropped a bottle of ketchup and the plastic bottle just bounced off the floor whereas a glass bottle would have shattered. Plastic does have it's uses.

[@emp5352]

It's the scientists who created better steel, better glass, and even better wood composites. Is life all black and white for you, or just your way of thinking?

[@ianbradley1772]

I thought republicans only believe science from the Bible.

[@SamWesting]

Exorbitant battery costs, massive depreciation, long wait time for service at dealerships, shortage of independent repair shops: What not to love about EVs? 😂

[@brewnhell9938]

So how exactly are they “recycling” those batteries? I can’t see them being less harmful than any other battery being used or transformers full of PCB’s. Are those batteries being put into a “storage facility” a fancy word for stockpiling hazardous and toxic materials?

[@wdrobby]

look it up🙄

[@dallysinghson5569]

@@wdrobby They can be recycled but this is only being done very recently and is not even fully implemented... So we're gonna have to wait a while.

[@Itspurple13]

It's not available everywhere and there have been massive fires from EV batteries sitting in scrap yards waiting to be recycled. They swell just like cellphone batteries and burst into flames but burn so hot that fire departments just try to contain the fire from spreading and burn itself out.

[@jamesfehr2071]

@@dallysinghson5569 Wich means... They can't be recycled.

[@surelyyoujokemeinfailure7531]

@@Itspurple13 Correct. You wouldn't want to stockpile them in any quantity, because sooner or later there would be a fire that's nearly impossible to put out.

[@pyrolight7568]

Also be aware it is unlikely those batteries will be recycled.

[@frotobaggins7169]

What is the COST of disposal of those batteries. It's not like you just throw them in a shredder or anything. they are an electrocution and fire hazard. Who pays for that?

[@dc48664]

They are recycled to be used as battery solar backup. A little research would go a long way before you spout off opinions.

[@markadler8968]

EV Battery recycling = Buried in a discreet landfill somewhere.

[@safeandeffectivelol]

@@markadler8968 They will be shipped off to a 3rd world country

[@Crayfish-]

" Bic " has " Disposable Lighters " And " Tesla " has " Disposable Cars " !

[@blueyes0152]

Good thing it's just the "early adopters" experiencing these problems.

[@dmironyuk]

The early birds get the bug that bites😆

[@ThomasBarone]

....so far.

[@mikebryant614]

This Reporter was wrong when she said "the batteries are recyclable". That is largely myth , as virtually no facilities capable of it are out there, and the few that are have been finding out it is so difficult for the value of material able to be reclaimed that it is just not economically feasible., there just isnt enough money in it to make it worth it. So, those batteries will in fact largely go to the dump somewhere or another.

[@brent4073]

I think there are a couple that generate that black tar substance that is economically feasible. Problem is shipping a 2,000lb used car battery from every city in the US a thousand miles to that facility, the shipping probably gobbles up all that savings especially when EV owners just walk away from their cars too

[@imzjustplayin]

They're recycling the batteries but they need to develop the facilities for it since the amount of lithium battery recycling done prior was relatively small.

[@99problems253]

😂. That's why I'll stick with my 30 year old truck that I can fix myself and drive further on 2 tanks then your stupid EV.

[@timothyslaughter476]

And fill up in three minutes, go run 2 hours worth of errands drive back past the gas station and guess who's still sitting there with their rag ev car plugged in, a thumb plugged in their mouth, the other thumb plugged up their ass waiting for someone to yell " switch"?????

[@kirkgorte128]

Also drive farther

[@martinricardo4503]

@@kirkgorte128 Farther not further. Someone who understands the difference. Good.

[@dc48664]

Good for you! 'MERICA!

[@RxPharmer]

75% of Americans don't even drive vehicles older than 2004. Nobody cares about your $5 truck that has less tech than my thermostat.

[@sirjohng1]

Love that YT video showing a huge long line, of mainly, damaged Teslas which insurance companies have written off being too expensive to repair. Much of the damage shown is seemingly quite slight.

[@jimmyg7733]

Incredible amounts of people were buying EVs. As a life long car guy concerned with long term reliability and costs, I was just baffled. Were people not considering that one day they'll have to replace the battery? People would freak if every 10-15yr old car had mandatory engine replacements.

[@tom1949213]

I went to buy a 2025 model car and unfortunately I didn’t know this company was only making hybrids in their most popular 2025. Scratch that sale and the search for ICE continues.

[@GarthVonMaraner]

EV cars right now are just like big smart phones with wheels in my opinion. If the smartphone's battery isn't as good as it was originally, people would just choose to replace the whole phone. "Throwaway industry" as the man said.

[@stefan2796]

That's how Elon, who won the "Pigeon CEO" of the year award, looks at it. And he doesn't care about his throw away products. He thinks its normal.

[@toeknee3138]

My 12 year old gas powered Ford still has exactly the same range as the day I drove it off the lot and it "super charges" to 100% full in one minute.

[@noneofyourbusiness5433]

The range will be better than when new. Things loosen up and become more efficient.

[@sowhat599]

Wow. A throw away car. Once you're done with it you just throw it away. That EV utopia is becoming a nightmare for these EVangelists.

[@darrellsaunders4267]

One idiot on YT bought a Cyber Truck....lost 50% of charge for about 35 miles....

[@jjpark1989]

I’d rather replace a new ICE engine than replace a bunch of EV batteries.

[@Walter-wo5sz]

My 1998 Crown victoria is still going strong, parts are cheap and it's user serviceable. And it cost a hell of a lot less than one of those slot cars

[@jogmas12]

Those crown Vicks are good cars

[@ronbennett7885]

Yep. And in that same time an EV owner could be on their 3rd or 4th EV due to battery degradation. Not good for the environment nor economical.

[@mikeb4708]

I’m not anti EV but the lithium ion battery is not the answer to electrification for so many reasons. I have a friend whose house caught on fire because of an E-Bike he had just bought 2 weeks prior. He said it wasn’t even plugged in.

[@penedrador]

It can happen to any battery, anytime basically. Sometimes there are warning signs, sometimes there are none. A pot hole could be enough to damage the battery just right and poof - campfire for days.

[@poliziagrammaticale9430]

*whose

[@mikeb4708]

@@poliziagrammaticale9430 that is what I wrote initially but it didn’t look right! Corrected!

[@neilfrasersmith]

When he said '57' I almost spat my coffee.

[@joeaun61]

The search still continues for the first mechanic that would recommend buying a fully electric vehicle…

[@AlanBurr-nu5tm]

Even adult toys have battery sustainable issues. Why is this a surprise on cars ?

[@brimopm]

This is what happens when bureaucrats mandate and subsidize changes to mature industries based on flawed interpretation of science. Unfortunately they are doubling down as the "green power" industry is under the same "transition" pressure and it's fraught with an overwhelming toxic waste problem too.

[@thorick590]

Wait, are you saying that AOC didn't carefully study the issue ? Ha ha ha !

[@opencarry3860]

Battery powered vehicles looking for a solution to a problem that doesn't even exist. Just say no to BEVs.

[@mitchd949]

People buy phones and know full well that batteries do not last. Why do these same dummies buy electric cars and not understand that the same sort of battery life issues are likely to exist?

[@andrewh2u]

Driving a 2010 gasoline / petroleum fuelled car here which was purchased almost new and that replaced a 1996 car which I sold and was also running fine. Just dont see the economic viability of buying a new electric vehicle when it has to be treated as a readily disposable commodity or economic money pit.

[@r0mulyni2]

My 1990 civic still going strong

[@adamcurtis83]

How one could not see this coming is unbelievable. Literally.

[@bobcratchet3736]

Don’t like the heat and won’t work in the cold. I feel ya.

[@edbrown2061]

How long until the used EVs are prohibited from being parked in large amounts due to fire risk? They didn’t have data? I find that hard to believe since they are Li-o batteries just like in your phone. We all know they are good for a few years before they lose charge capacity and need to be plugged in all the time or have the battery replaced.

[@softwarephil1709]

Repair shops already isolate them.

[@gregfawcett5152]

The insurance on EV'S is also much more expensive than gas cars due to the high cost of repair due to the lack of trained mechanics. Need to have a backup car as it will be in the shop for Months due to Severe lack of mechanics. Severe lack of charging stations where you can't charge them. Tires wear out 2-3 times faster as they are heavy cars, and the tires are way expensive due to the weight of the car/battery. Might be worth it in another 20 to 30 years but for now not a wise choice.

[@jeremiah-om7zl]

Insurance has nothing to do with breakdown repairs 😂😂😂😂😂

[@Tonyrg1988]

@@jeremiah-om7zlrepairs for collisions

[@saxon-mt5by]

@@jeremiah-om7zl It does when the insurance company is paying out for months of car hire; one of the biggest problems with EVs is that no-one, including the manufacturers, are carry spares stock. It might cost $20k to repair, but add in the cost of the hire car for months and the bill soon become $40k!

[@Deploracle]

If you need to keep a backup car your primary car is shite.

[@gregfawcett5152]

@@jeremiah-om7zl Because of the shortage of properly trained mechanics the cost to repair in time and money from an accident goes up. simple supply and demand..just a fact!

[@papayuki3590]

before ANYONE gets a "green" EV car .. look into how much it will cost to fix it like if the battery's need replacing and so on .... these cars are not ready for prime time ... they are nothing more then a over grown toy or something to get as a status symbol.

[@kimbrey65]

The shouldn't be as expensive as the entire car was worth! That's beyond ridiculous. It's no wonder they are considered throw away cars. I won't be buying one, sounds like a waste of money!

[@gregfawcett5152]

Cars depreciate very quickly...especially EV'S.

[@karmaandkerosene_music]

The unintended consequences are what usually get you.

[@LeroyJenkins-nn5go]

So everybody disposes their car and buys a new one every five years? Sounds like a great plan

[@jermainelong1843]

The false panacea comes unstuck.

[@sheerwillsurvival2064]

Funny I said this years ago . And liberals attacked me saying they last over 10 years and can be recycled . I was right about everything. Feels good

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

The problem is that the wealthy, powerful, influential, and narcissistic control everything. That's why electric vehicles were pushed in the first place. At face value, they SOUND like a great idea: "less emissions"... "no noise"... "future tech", it's all just smoke and mirrors. Hollywon't stuff doesn't apply to the real world.

[@frotobaggins7169]

Well to be fair, the battery only lasts 10 years because they spend 2 of those 10 years sitting at a charger not driving the car. LOL

[@jimmurphy5355]

So a small percentage of packs are failing after 12 years and you think that proves they can’t last over 10 years? Keep in mind these earliest mass produced EVs probably didn’t treat the batteries as carefully as they do now, and the batteries have also improved since then.

[@sheerwillsurvival2064]

@@jimmurphy5355 we shall see and what about recycling???

[@frotobaggins7169]

@@jimmurphy5355 What is a "small percentage"? The total number of EV's in the market is small, so a small number is a larger percentage.

[@robertdavis5714]

Will soon be the toxic trash problem that will get worse and worse...........

[@alexsavon2676]

" It's important to note too that they say their batteries are recyclable" 😂👍

[@oldguy7402]

"Batteries are recyclable " Oh, really? Show me one recycler on the west coast who is doing it, and report on the throughput of their operation.

[@bertram46]

What am absolute joke. Beyond this where do you think electricity comes from

[@penedrador]

Out of the socket, duh!

[@SuttonART]

Isn’t it time to flush the RC car lie down the toilet? We need street cars back and high speed trains, not these dumb personal battery cars.

[@Rashnak66]

so many products used to work well before the government 'fixed' them. Gas cans used to pour easily and dishwashers used to finish quickly. Government now says that after 2035 the only car you will be able to buy is one that performs worse than before and god help you if it gets cold outside.

[@gary9080]

I’m the only one not having gas can issues. I’ve kept mine from the 80s in good condition.👍

[@christopherbasham1551]

Washington state has a very clean power grid. Grid generated electricity works out to 93 gms of CO2 per Kwh. An average EV gets 3 miles per Kwh. So an average EV only produces 31 gms of CO2 per mile, that's exceptional in the US. The diesel electric hybrid VolksWagen XL1 produces 29 gms of CO2 per mile, and has a 512 mile range. I live in Ohio and that same average EV produces 176 gms of CO2 per mile, a Prius is only 155.

[@JeffThePoustman]

CO2 is plant food and a lagging indicator of warming.

[@alexsystems2001]

So if you bought a brand new Camry MSRP $29,952 and averaged 34MPG and had $20,000 to spend on fuel at $5/gal… you should be able to drive 136,000 miles on the cost of that replacement battery… which one sounds like the better deal?

[@surelyyoujokemeinfailure7531]

Which is why I'm keeping my long-paid-off 2015 stickshift hatchback that gets as much as 46mpg on the highway.

[@DaBluBarron1918]

Facts. I work for fortune 300 car company. I do 80 car appraisals a day of every make and model. Honda and Toyota owners have no equity issues, every single EV is nosediving in residual.

[@fredfred2363]

Excellent comment. Good point.

[@winstonsmith8441]

There is nothing Green about EVs except for the money that is being flushed down the toilet by the buyers of these cars, the taxpayers that are forced to subsidize them, and the other drivers who are forced to pay the higher insurance rates to cover repairs to these abominations.

[@slikrhodez3336]

I can't imagine just pissing away a $20k car!!

[@tommytorrence7553]

I’m not sure people would purchase an EV, if they fully understood where, and how, cobalt is mined. Cobalt is a critical component used in all rechargeable batteries, phones, pads, PC’s and so on. Cobalt has been used in this manner for some time, but since the move to EV’s, beginning in 2012, demand for cobalt has increased exponentially. The Katanga region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the richest source of cobalt in the world. If one is familiar with the Belgian colonization under King Leopold ll, it’s not a leap to imagine the same brutal exploitation of the Congolese repeating. First the Ivory, then then the rubber, then the palm oil was, and now the cobalt will be taken from them. The Japanese seem to be finding a solution to carbon emissions by utilizing hydrogen. I don’t know..the jury is still out on the true cost of these vehicles.

[@jimmurphy5355]

Cobalt is being phased out of lithium ion batteries that used to use it, and was never used at all in lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. LFP batteries are safer, cheaper and longer lasting than the more energy dense lithium ion type. So they are becoming the main type used in mid-range EVs. No cobalt…

[@barackblows1942]

Nobody cares because BLM. FJB 🖕🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳

[@aloha270999]

How do you repair batteries? They're recycled but you still have to buy new batteries, either way you're voluntarily hooked.

[@supernova743]

The cost is so high because the batteries are integrated into the frame. You could cut the repair cost in half if you just changed the frunk into a battery storage area.

[@GixxerRider1991]

Being an early adopter of any new technology is a fool's errand. Let someone else incur all of that risk with their hard-earned money, then wait until the kinks are ironed out to get an EV for yourself. Generally speaking, the last few years of an old technology are almost always better than the first few years of a new technology.

[@HOTPLATEGAMING]

People with the Roadsters. A battery pack costs $40K now

[@OYisit]

Ouch, saw that time bomb coming. How green do I look now? 😅

[@zrumble]

OMG what a misrepresentation of battery replacement from a News agency. Those batteries don’t need a complete replacement but a $1500 R&R and a detachment of a couple cells. Those early roadsters are worth hundreds of thousands each in the parking lot.

[@IDK_Mr.M]

And i am sure he would not have done the interview if he knew the way she would have spun the repair aspect. That guy makes money for repairing EVs. The report seems scattered and unpolished.

[@jayjay6117]

This news segment brought to you by the American Petroleum Institute, lol.

[@thorick590]

Who's going to warranty a repair like that ? No business that wants to remain in business.

[@mcdlb181]

Lol that didn’t take long , government backed , what a joke

[@mikaeljordan1983]

This is just the tip of the iceberg !

[@patriot5526]

It is really hard to overstate the how great electric vehicles are for the environment. The lithium mining is making African children rich, and the batteries are making Elon Musk and China rich, and the batteries can’t be recycled, making recycling companies rich. And let’s not forget about towing companies getting rich in the winter towing EVs to charging stations. It’s hard to believe that global warming hasn’t completely stopped with all this incredible technology we have.

[@blakeaaron5698]

There are repair shops that can repair the batteries for $4-5k

[@Baebon6259]

that is stop gap measure. They only replace bad cells and leave the good 1 in. You are running the risk of the good ones died right after and have to do that process all over again.

[@tlor8922]

It's not repair. It's replacing the battery. Lol

[@peterduxbury927]

Your Comment is rare and most positive. When an EV battery Pack begins to fail, the battery is modular. The problem may just be a single Cell (in Series) that greatly affects the battery Life. A Qualified Technician can identify a particular faulty Cell - and replace it! We need more Technicians around the world that can do this work, and this will alleviate the issues and high costs associated with Full battery Pack Replacement. There are many small companies who specialize in renovating EV battery Packs already. I am not a believer in super-charging any LiFe Po Battery Pack, and it is much kinder for the EV battery to slow charge overnight.

[@MrEricmopar]

let me tell you, I have an electronics background, both in Ham radio and I also used to work in industrial controls for awhile. The batteries can be repaired, that is true, but then the other cells will fail, more and more often, making the car an untrustworthy money pit, were you never know when the next aging cell will die.

[@blakeaaron5698]

@@MrEricmopar EVs aren’t going anywhere; so ultimately we need to come up with better, more efficient diagnostics and repair services.

[@eilois]

Someone going to jail in a few decades, for life without parole.

[@penedrador]

As if. These things are pushed by the people in power, they will never face consequences

[@billscott1601]

Can’t wait till the entire West Coast goes all electric.

[@Hawk89gt]

The batteries are “recyclable”…. Perhaps they theoretically are, but almost no one is actually doing it.

[@nowhereman9463]

You want green? Try using your legs, they're there for a reason, just sayin. Stay fit.

[@martinphillips4567]

Question for anyone buying a ev? What happened if you get in an accident system fail and the car overheated you die. This is happening in every country so Buyer beware, insurance is going Through the roof. The ev Industry Could care less about me, it shows

[@malcolmar]

Wow. This mechanic and his family are brave. I would hate to see any of those cars go into thermo runaway and cause a chain reaction with the other cars. I still don't think there is a viable way to recycle EV batteries. How does that make sense when politicians are pushing for more EVs. Everyone who actually keeps their cell phone for a long time knows this. Over time the phone looses capacity on a charge. Eventually the whole phone, which was not cheap in the first place, has to be replaced because the batteries are not removable. How did people think EV cars would not end up like cell phones?

[@WiseGuy02]

Dealers are struggling to sell EVs. People are waking up to the fact they don't hold their value and they don't get the advertised range. Most EVs sales are going to businesses, not individuals. And they not exactly great for the environment, up to 680 tons of earth is mined for one ev battery.

[@nv1493]

Man don't you feel great about this greenie utopia.....

[@softwarephil1709]

Here’s green 🤢

[@gsc512]

I don't think the EPA factors in the environmental cost of the manufacturing of these vehicles or any vehicles with the EGR type systems that destroy the engine. Causing the vehicle to be scrapped way earlier than it should be. They dropped the life of a diesel from a million miles down to 250k And with electric vehicles. It's worst because the batteries are very hazardous to the environment And as far as Americans, it's $1,000 a month payment to ultimately have nothing owned and just have to go back to the company to spend another $1,000 a month at least with the gas vehicle. There's a couple of years with correct maintenance where you don't have to pay anything so you can save for that next big purchase. It's a lease for life

[@softwarephil1709]

How about disposable of the dead batteries?

[@gsc512]

@@softwarephil1709 That's what I meant by the batteries are very bad for the environment is the disposal of the batteries but oftentimes the vehicles catch fire and then you have that lithium smoke going into the environment and also the runoff if they try to put out the heat using traditional means. So all in all I don't think lithium batteries is the way to go. At least not here in the USA. Perhaps in a developing country where they could do their initial Network setup with we where you should be pushing EV technology but keep the US cost low because if you bankrupt the USA, you can't help anybody anyway if that's truly your cause, but I don't think that's the politician's cause I think it's corruption and greed

[@frotobaggins7169]

EV's are disposable. Disposable and recyclable are two different things. Many things that are disposable are recyclable.

[@howebrad4601]

Can someone please explain to me how scrapping these relatively new cars is green? How is that any less polluting over its entire life cycle than a combustion car that can last for decades with minor routine maintenance. Notice the reporter said the batteries are recyclable, but did not say they are actually being recycled or how much that costs

[@tbone1780]

More no votes for Joe.😅

[@softwarephil1709]

Trump 2024 🎉 🇺🇸 💪

[@steve8039]

I think most EV owners will only every own one once. What with repair costs/depreciation/frustration etc. That market/user base is going to dry up fast in the coming years.

[@stefan2796]

The second hand market for EVs is already tanking.

[@boostedmaniac]

Imagine only fueling your gas tank to 3/4 full every time you go to the gas station so you can preserve the life of the car. This is what they tell you to charge your battery to extend the life, 80%.

[@imzjustplayin]

Different battery chemistries have certain limitations. Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries need to be charged to 100% regularly.

[@fredfred2363]

Wow. Everyone should watch this. And then take a moment to understand what the implications are.

[@lamontgarrett9215]

Elon got you

[@MrMscotth]

There aren't enough mechanics trained to replace batteries that cost $20K? The work is easy, the mark up on the parts makes it hard. Plenty of people to work on them.

[@gregfawcett5152]

Insurance costs are 1.5 times higher than gas due to lack of trained mechanics. Untrained people have been electrocuted thinking they know what they are doing.

[@dallysinghson5569]

The average middle income person gonna fork out $20k on a fix (without markup) for their car? They're usually in a state of mind where they'd rather buy another newer car rather than fork out to save one that will fail again down the line.

[@JeffreySmith7777]

You $$$ missed $$$$ the $$$$ point $$$$$ of the $$$$$$ article $$$$$.😅

[@stefan2796]

The work isn't always easy, try peeling out a model Y battery pack...It wasn't built to have it replaced. These are basically "throw away" cars.

[@FluxyMiniscus]

Yup, my 2017 Nissan Leaf battery (with only 22,000 miles on it) started failing last year. It had one complete failure which took a month to fix (one cell was shot) and then the range dropped in half. The dealership technician said the battery needed replacement, so they ordered one (under warranty thank goodness) and we started waiting……. Six months later I got a message from Nissan telling me that the battery was no longer being produced and that they were entering me into their buyback program. It took about another 6 months of jumping through hoops but in the end Nissan gave us a really good settlement and we ended up leasing a newer model longer range Leaf, which we love. We considered getting a traditional gas powered car again, but the memories of huge bills from the mechanic had us deciding to continue on the EV road. (our previous Subaru was a nightmare of constant problems) EVs aren’t suited for everyone yet, but for our family it’s a perfect fit

[@AnthonyJ350]

Interested to see how the high voltage and amperage connections at the charger and motors look like after 10 years. These vehicles are difficult to service and tons of modules everywhere.

[@slapskate]

If they were early adopters & are still driving the 1st generation EV's they should have upgraded by now lol I feel bad for the people that bought them used though!

[@Whooshta]

No. This throw away culture is stupid. You should not have to upgrade cars like a phone. I still drive a 2011 ford focus that cost me 19k when I first bought it. Regular maintenance and 220k miles on it, runs pretty dang good.

[@williamquemuel7824]

A gas combustion vehicle will last far longer than this throwaway EV. It is not cheap to keep replacing an EV. In fact, you are harming the environment just to replace an EV with bad battery. This is foolishness.

[@williamquemuel7824]

@@WhooshtaRight on. Maintenance cost will be cheaper for ford focus instead buying $56K EV.

[@Whooshta]

@williamquemuel7824 exactly, and I bought a 2012 ford fusion from an uncle for my husband. Runs great with only 100k on it. I couldn't fathom blowing that much money on anything not a house.

[@Noah_Zion]

No, they shouldn't