Editor, The Beacon:

At first glance, an all-electric fleet would seem to be the solution for oil independence and reduction of greenhouse gases. But as someone once said, the devil is in the details.

The heart of an electric vehicle is the power from a lithium-ion battery. Using earthmoving machines to mine lithium ore is extremely damaging to the environment. Huge amounts of fossil fuel are consumed in the process.

The largest deposits of lithium ore are located in China. I don’t believe the Chinese government is any more charitable with the U.S. than the Arabs are with their oil. So the U.S. is only exchanging one dependence for another.

Last summer, California asked residents with EVs to not charge them because of electric production shortages. Where will all the electricity come from to keep a fleet of vehicles running?

The cost of an EV is prohibitive for most families. The battery life is limited, and the batteries are not recyclable. The cost of a new battery pack begins at $20,000 to $24,000, the cost of a new gasoline-driven car.

As the sea level rises and shorelines crumble into the sea, change in powering our society will be inevitable. Legislators in Wyoming already proposed banning the sale of EVs in their state.

While that proposal did not pass, the mindset of hanging on to greenhouse-gas-producing fuel and political will must change if our planet is to remain habitable.

Hydrogen is the fuel if we are to prosper independent of outside fuel sources. It can be produced from wastewater, garbage, green algae and other non-fossil-fuel raw materials. When hydrogen is combined with oxygen, heat and water are the byproducts.

Toyota Motor Corp. has produced a V-8 engine for its pickup truck, the perfect platform for hydrogen tanks. Hydrogen fuel cells power buses on the streets of our county.

Do we really need a Tesla car that goes from 0 to 60 mph in four seconds, with a top speed of 150 mph? Time is running out before we reach a tipping point. Common sense must prevail.

Tom Walker

DeLeon Springs

2 COMMENTS

  1. Posted on ToyotaNation: Toyota must realize EVs are only a partial solution to the air pollution problem. Limits will soon be put on Li-ion battery production because of the environmental damage caused by the mining and refining of lithium, nickel, graphite, cobalt, and rare earth metals. That’s where hydrogen comes into play.

    By the end of the decade, the worldwide ANNUAL demand for new personal vehicles is expected to be 100 million. Add to that an ANNUAL demand for 20 million transportation vehicles. I don’t see how 50% of these vehicles can be pure EVs. Transportation vehicles need much larger battery packs, don’t forget. Li-ion batteries will likely have to be spread out among hybrids, PHEVs, and FCEVs to meet annual demand for new vehicles. The internal combustion engine for transportation vehicles can be converted to burn natural gas or hydrogen. Both engine types can pass strict emissions tests. Hydrogen can also be burned in conventional personal vehicles to eliminate the need for special batteries and electric motors. Hydrogen ICEVs can also be electrified, with or without plugs. Of course, there will also be personal FCEVs. It has been proven by the makers of the Apricale and Rasa that even small FCEVs can be much lighter than EVs and can generate plenty of power. FCEVs and hydrogen ICEVs will have several advantages over EVs.

    Fortunately, Toyota realizes hydrogen will become a big part of our future. FCEVs and hydrogen ICEs will likely be called upon to minimize the environmental damage caused by Li-ion battery manufacturing.

    While looking at Tesla, Toyota should also be looking at the history of Hyundai/Kia. They proved it is never too late to enter the auto manufacturing business. Toyota may be late to the EV game, but can gain ground with each passing year while making money on all other vehicle types. Manufacturers with an ‘all of the above’ approach will likely benefit the most.

  2. What happened to FORD’S Hydrogen Vehicle they traveled to many Universities and Colleges showing the vehicle and everyone I spoke with was looking into when would it be available to every day persons.

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