The Dark Side of Electric Cars

China is snatching up the key ingredient for EV batteries.

Car batteries are the new blood diamonds, but it doesn’t have to be this way.

Thank you to Guillaume Debrier and the International Peace Information Service (IPIS)

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Johnny Harris is a filmmaker and journalist. He currently is based in Washington, DC, reporting on interesting trends and stories domestically and around the globe. Johnny's visual style blends motion graphics with cinematic videography to create content that explains complex issues in relatable ways. He holds a BA in international relations from Brigham Young University and an MA in international peace and conflict resolution from American University.

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[CleoAbram]

Johnny, thank you! I learned a ton making this with you. It's amazing how clear things can get when you talk them out with a friend. You and Iz have been so supportive since I went independent (and before!) and I can't wait to keep making things together. Maybe next time I’ll have you on my channel :)

[benjaminrees]

Glad she brought up the "how about public transit". Cars and the infrastructure aren't inherently the problem but, here in the US, our infrastructure has all but abandoned public transit and built entirely around cars

[GuidoHaverkort]

You should do another video on how America became so car-centric in the first place. Massive lobbying led to an America where car travel is literally the only way to get round, and massive lobbying is still going on to keep it that way. While (like Cleo said) investing in public transport and better civil planning is objectively the better way to go.

[Killerkiki]

Johnny and Cleo should do a whole series/podcast together. I love Johnny’s maps and catastrophic outlook on the direction of the world and I love Cleo’s ability to reel that back in and offer solutions. A perfect pairing!

[anakinskyogre]

As someone who lives in the car capital of the world it’s really hard to explain how much public transit is a solution that is overlooked and under funded as a solution that doesn’t involve getting Chinese control or mining finite resources

[williamburris]

I understand that you mention China owning a significant number of mines, but it should be noted the Europeans, Americans and Canadians far outnumber the Chinese in terms of mining Cobalt and other minerals in East Africa. In my country, Barrick Gold from Canada managed to avoid 40 million in Taxes to my country through and elaborate scheme. Things will only become positive when we as Africans seize the means of manufacturing and trade of our own materials.

[shuvammishra]

Only in America can you be called “pie in the sky” for suggesting that you should invest in public transport 🙄🙄🙄

[akbarali-fhrb]

The heading of video is " The Dark Side of Electric Cars" and Thumbnail is showing pic stating "China Controls the Minerals".
This is enough to understand prejudice.

[Scottyboyhvacdude]

The best part about electric cars is that electricity appears out of thin air. Seriously how do you think the power to charge any of those batteries is made? Inconvenient facts not addressed at any point!

[Ystsl]

Most batteries made for EV's in China right now don't have cobalt, they're lithium iron phosphate batteries.

[fqwgads]

YES on Cleo's last point. Places like Amsterdam and Tokyo are designed in such a way where you don't even need a car. You can get everywhere you need to go via public transport, bike, or on foot. No problematic new technology needed, just smart, thoughtful design. Shoutout to Not Just Bikes and Strong Towns for increasing awareness of good design.

[thedude]

I like the thermal stability point you talked about of cobalt which is true, heck even metal recycling plants are focussing on it. One part I missed is the effect of regulation/subsidies on the reason why lithium and cobalt batteries are so wanted

[HirokaAkita]

I know this is not kind of the "best option", but i think it's the less troublesome one for me:

1- Either goverments invest more on public transport (especially metro and Natural Gas powered BRTs)
2- Find a way to make biofuels that don't create CO2 as a byproduct.

I just think it could go that way.

[Deveonn]

Chinese are actually big on cobalt free batteries. Tesla also buys these LFP batteries as basically the only western carmaker.

[lunacave]

There's the question of just how much energy, and what kind that's required for the recycling process itself?

[NatalieJ]

I definitely think the point about not throwing the baby out with the bath water is a very good reminder for people. Our current clean energy solutions are not flawless, but that doesn’t mean we should give up on switching to clean energy, it just means we need to continue working to fix the problems that exist with green energy.

[EnayetChowdhuryOfficial]

Thanks Cleo for mentioning the matter of Public Transit. We are just forgetting it for the sexier EVs.

[zackfox]

"A cleaner future is a cleaner future, just with problems we still have to solve" That sentence really connected with me.

[hunterdouglas]

This was way more balanced and nuanced than the title led me to believe. Loved Cleo’s take on the problem as being significant but solvable.

[trzyxm]

The problem is that such batteries need to be recharged, which means that the environmental cost is passed on to power plants, which for the most part continue to run on fossil fuels.