Pirate's Cove

Nice try, Sparky

Opinion – We’re losing the EV race because we still think it’s about the environment

While Beijing built gigafactories, the United States debated tax credits. China saw electric vehicles as an industrial strategy — we saw them as climate policy. Now, China commands 60 percent of global battery electric vehicle sales and dominates the battery supply chain that will power tomorrow’s cars, trucks and buses. America barely reaches 16 percent. (snip)

That same year, Beijing launched “Made in China 2025,” an industrial policy to accelerate advanced manufacturing capabilities and reduce foreign dependence. But China’s leaders had identified “new energy vehicles” as a strategic sector long before that — as early as 2006 — and followed up with a National Energy-Saving and New Energy Vehicle Development Plan in 2012. When “Made in China 2025” elevated electric vehicles as a national priority, the industry exploded.

Meanwhile, the U.S. took a wrong turn. Instead of focusing on the electric vehicle as a breakthrough technology, Washington framed it as an environmental issue — one that remains politically divisive.

Beijing forced this on their citizens, in a much stronger manner than the US and state governments did. And, it wasn’t just Washington, it was the climate cult, most of whom didn’t buy EVs for themselves, because they are inconvenient.

Electric vehicles are not just clean cars, but rather computers on wheels, connected to data, chips and infrastructure. Losing the electric vehicle race means losing leverage over critical technology standards, supply chains and industrial jobs. This isn’t just about automakers; it’s about national power and the future of our tech ecosystem.

Sounds like a bunch of BS to me as the cult tries to reframe why they want to force US citizens into EVs

The U.S. must start treating electric vehicles as an advanced technology sector central to our economic competitiveness and innovation power. National leaders should move beyond purchase subsidies to focus on industrial build-out, software-defined vehicle research and development, and secure data infrastructure.

And we don’t have to do it alone. Allies from Japan to Germany face the same challenge. Joint battery production, shared industrial standards, and coordinated investment can strengthen all our industries — together.

Electric vehicles aren’t a climate accessory. They’re the next platform for global technological power. America can’t afford to sit in the passenger seat.

Nah, I’m good. Really, there’s been little change in guitars for a long, long time. Not a whole lot of difference between my 2020 Epiphone Les Paul Studio and the original Les Paul created. Don’t need all sorts of stuff. Works just fine. And I’m more than happy with my Accord Hybrid. If you want an EV, get one. Stop trying to force others into them.

Oh, and then there’s the next story on Yahoo News

EV drivers could face new tax in Budget

Drivers of electric vehicles (EVs) could face the prospect of a new tax in this month’s Budget.

With pressure on the chancellor to find tens of billions of pounds in additional revenue, the BBC understands there have been “conversations” within government about the possibility of a new levy on EVs.

A government spokesperson told the BBC: “Fuel duty covers petrol and diesel, but there’s no equivalent for electric vehicles. We want a fairer system for all drivers.”

“Buy an EV and you’ll save money over driving petrol vehicles. Oh, and here’s a new tax to erase those savings.” When government talks about “fairer”, watch your wallet. And freedom.