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Lately we’ve seen a lot of articles about the supposed problems with electric vehicles. Since the burning of fossil fuels for transportation is one of the largest factors in the climate crisis, it’s important to address this disinformation and set the record straight.

In fact, there is no challenge facing humanity greater than the climate crisis, and the rapid increase in EV usage is one of the few bright spots in this picture. Hawaii could play an important role in the adoption of electric transportation, due to our limited driving distances and availability of solar power year-round.

, often sourced from the oil industry, have promoted several red herrings designed to slow the growth of EVs and cast doubt in those considering them.

These range from the trivial to the merely incorrect, including that there will not be enough electricity to charge EV batteries, that there are inherent dangers in EVs, that batteries are too costly, and that mining of rare metals for EV batteries is an environmental hazard that rivals oil extraction.

The first few of these manufactured concerns are so absurd as to not warrant serious attention. Of course we can grow our electric capacity for EV use, since much of this demand is being met by rooftop solar and fast-growing renewables. Yes, there are malfunctions in electric vehicles, but at a small fraction of the rate of problems with gas-powered cars.

Some say the cost of replacing an EV battery makes them a bad deal. This is another red herring.

Most warranties will cover the replacement, up to 10 years. In the case where a new battery is needed out of warranty, then the cost of the battery is basically the cost of this used car, which is then almost like new. And let’s remember, gas-powered cars have a lot of expensive repairs over their lifetime, with hundreds more moving parts.

Concerns with the cost and minerals needed for EV batteries deserve a serious response, which I hope to provide here. Rare minerals such as lithium and cobalt are used in many EV batteries, along with copper and nickel. Cobalt is mined in areas with poor human rights, and this is a valid concern. But cobalt is already being phased out in the latest battery designs; Tesla and others are now using cobalt-free batteries.

Lithium was once thought to be a limiting factor, but recent discoveries of lithium around the world, including the U.S., have changed that. New extraction techniques have made lithium available from salty seas and even seawater.

Lithium is now fairly abundant and no longer a limiting factor. And the newest battery developments, such as solid state batteries, use none of these rare minerals. So battery technology and cost are making rapid advances that are already lessening rare mineral concerns and will soon put these concerns to rest. The same cannot be said about the mining and burning of fossil fuels.

An important fact never mentioned in the oil industry PR is that the minerals in batteries are recharged and used for years, then recycled and reused, while oil is burned once, and then more oil is mined, transported and burned, again and again, and this is destroying our atmosphere. 

When EV batteries lose enough of their efficiency to warrant replacement, the batteries are then useable in stationary applications such as home or utility energy storage.

At the end of their useful life the minerals are recycled and reused. In contrast, the burning of oil is a onetime use, and requires more oil, more mining and more burning. There is no comparison from an environmental standpoint, even if burning fossil fuels were not the existential problem that it is.

But let’s not lose sight of the big picture here. To clarify our thinking, let’s assume for the sake of argument the worst-case scenario, where we are mining rare minerals in a destructive manner. But we must compare this to the ongoing mining, transportation and burning of oil.

Huge contaminated fields of oil wells, pipelines, oil wars, worldwide shipping and spillage — the . Why isn’t this mentioned when the supposed hazards of mineral mining are discussed?

And mining effects aside, finally the big issue remains the burning of oil, which is, after all, the one thing the planet cannot tolerate. If we care about the environment and the world we leave our children and grandchildren, then this is an easy choice. The costs of transitioning to carbon-free transportation are nothing compared to the cost of continued climate change.

In fact there is no single action an individual can take that has more immediate benefit to the environment than switching to an EV, by stopping the everyday burning of oil.

For those who’ve never driven an electric car, a pleasant surprise is in store for you. EVs are fast, quiet and very peppy, making them fun to drive.

When I’m first in line at a red light and next to a gas-powered car, I enjoy leaving the gas car in my wake, silently and effortlessly. I have no racing tendency, but I consider it a fun part of my duty to promote EVs, and change the misconception of them as weak or underpowered.

They are actually cheaper over the life of the car, as there are virtually no maintenance costs. For the environmentally conscious, and even for the cost-conscious driver, the satisfaction of never stopping at a gas station is hard to describe.

There are reasons why EVs are the fastest-growing segment of the auto industry, by far. Those who buy an electric car do not go back to gas-powered cars, because EV owner satisfaction is off the charts. Try one, you’ll like it.

And learn to recognize oil industry propaganda when you see it.