Community Chat

[gardenman]

The big issue with electric cars, and what will ultimately limit their adoption, is what to do with them at the end of their lifecycle? Around 17 million new cars get sold each year which means another 17 million old cars head to the scrapyard. What do you do with all of those batteries?

When I get rid of a lithium-ion battery now (much smaller batteries) I have to turn it in at one of our local hazardous waste days where they're disposed of properly. There's already been some talk of charging electric car owners to recycle their batteries. I've seen suggestions of as much as $20,000 per car to recycle the battery. I'm pretty sure most people would balk at the idea of having to pay someone that much to take your old car. Instead of having a trade-in credit, those cars will have a trade-in debit. That's not going to go over very well.

[teganslaw]

IMO what this all comes down to is that only wealthy people can afford electric cars. Licenses and stickers cost more, batteries are expensive to replace, needed repairs would be astronomical, a trade in debit, etc. What the person doesn't pay for gas they make up in other high costs. 

Nothing wrong with electric cars IF one can afford the costs and maintenance. 

[GoneButNotForgotten]

I'm not laughing at people losing their homes, cars, etc., it's the absurdity of the situation is what's ... absurd. An ecologically "safe" vehicle but it can burst into flame without any warning and potentially destory anything around it. It's insane.

[suzyQ3]

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@teganslaw wrote:

IMO what this all comes down to is that only wealthy people can afford electric cars. Licenses and stickers cost more, batteries are expensive to replace, needed repairs would be astronomical, a trade in debit, etc. What the person doesn't pay for gas they make up in other high costs. 

Nothing wrong with electric cars IF one can afford the costs and maintenance. 

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I bet it was the same when the first automobiles first entered the scene, @teganslaw