[Martinjlm]

Originally Posted by Capricio

For now, at least, I think this illustrates that when regulations, fuel prices, subsidies, and other forms of government meddling are removed (to a degree), ICE is still competitive and desired by consumers. "Win or lose", I'm just glad to see consumers having more control again, and fewer government forcing functions in place. All the comments after the article are crying/lamentation about the "lost opportunity" to force people to adopt EVs through policy.

EVs still need cheaper, improved, solid state chemistry (not made from Chinese sourced Unobtainium), and I think OEMs need to achieve a more modular battery construction to allow batteries to be lifecycled separately from the rest of the vehicle (prob never happen), or they will continue to have high prices, high insurance rates, and rapid depreciation.

...unless they're made in China, or, we're actually allowed to mine something domestically.

A lot of what you are suggesting is already happening. GM's battery system is modular and allows for the replacement of individual modules or cells. Other automakers (not Tesla) are going down similar paths. Tesla is in the mode of trying to optimize cost and modularization increases cost.

The co-founder of Tesla left the company several years ago to set up Redwood Materials. RM is the biggest and most technologically advanced recycler of lithium ion battery materials. Not just EV batteries. Any lithium ion batteries. This video is worth the 17 minute watch https://youtu.be/t04uTCoIlg0?si=EMG-Xnws4X6L3slI

GM just last week increased their involvement with RM to include the use of used EV batteries that still have significant life and value as storage devices. These repurposed batteries will be used to power GM data centers.

As far as solid state, pretty much the same materials used in liquid substrate batteries (today's standards) are used in solid-state batteries. Solid-state doesn't bring any magic that replaces lithium, cobalt, manganese, nickel or other materials used in today's battery. The point of solid state is to eliminate the liquid substrate and thereby make the batteries less reactive and improve safety. They will also improve power density so smaller, lighter batteries can be used to achieve the same power and range as today's batteries. That will make for lighter vehicles due to lower kWh capacity requirements. The glass half empty view of solid state is that there are currently no production process that produce it at scale for anywhere near marketable prices / kWh. Further development will eventually get it there though. China will continue to be the majority supplier of materials whether its current batteries or solid state batteries.