Electric Looking Up: EV Sales Are Rising, and Quick

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The auto market has faced several challenges in the past year, mostly due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. From material shortages, factory shutdowns, and decreased staffing due to social distancing guidelines, car sales overall have taken a hit. However, despite these tough situations facing most automakers, EV sales have actually soared. 

A State Gird charging station with solar panels and heat pumps | Li Shengli/VCG via Getty Images

Market difficulties aside, there are plenty of new cars on the horizon. One of the top vehicles to watch is the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E. It’s Ford’s first-ever all-electric crossover vehicle. As Car and Driver explains, while the name pays homage to the Mustang Mach-1, it has nothing to do with what most people associate with the Mustang name. However, this EV is still built to perform and deliver a fun ride with 480 horsepower and up to 634 pound-feet of torque for the Performance GT version.

The Toyota Prius still ranks high in used car popularity in terms of basic reliability, says Forbes. The Prius may not be the most enthralling car to drive, but it makes up for that with its stellar fuel economy. It’s also spacious and easy to maintain. 

Rising gas prices affect consumer choices

Due to rising gas prices, consumers are looking to EVs as a long-term economical option. As the New York Times reports, gas prices are higher now than at the beginning of the pandemic and are a sign of inflation. Prices are only projected to increase this year and into the near future.

EV sales are rising and thriving

As Kelley Blue Book reports, sales of EVs are surpassing sales of hybrids and plug-in hybrids. In the second quarter of 2021, Americans bought 118,233 EVs compared to just the 33,312 purchased in the first quarter of 2020. That’s a monumental increase of 254.9%. Additionally, in the second quarter of 2021, EV sales increased 201.1% from the first quarter of 2021. Those are big numbers amidst the slew of setbacks facing the auto market.

Interestingly, according to the numbers that Kelley Blue Book mentions, Tesla’s share of the EV market is shrinking. While that doesn’t mean Tesla’s sales are down, it does signal other brands becoming more established in the EV market and for vehicle types that Tesla doesn’t yet produce.

One possible explanation for the jump in EV sales is tax credits. They are a big incentive for consumers to purchase EVs. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, consumers are eligible for a tax credit of up to $7,500 when purchasing certain electric vehicles or plug-in hybrid models. The amount taxpayers will be credited depends on the battery capacity of the vehicle.

These automakers are doing the best in EV sales

According to Car and Driver, which broke down EV sales so far in 2021 by make and model, the top sellers are the Tesla Model Y and Model 3, respectively. After Tesla, the Chevrolet Bolt is enjoying a big jump in sales this year, with numbers up 142% over the first half of last year. Additionally, Chevrolet recently released the Bolt EUV crossover, which should positively impact sales.

Ford is also selling the lauded Mustang Mach-E in high numbers. With the release of its Mach-E GT slated for the fall, those numbers are sure to climb. In addition to Ford, according to Automotive News, Volkswagen Group’s U.S. EV sales have increased 321% in the first six months of 2021. Volkswagen Group is also doing well in the overall global market, with sales up 165% in the first half of the year. 

Automakers are aiming for increased EV production

Outside of the Mustang Mach-E, there are lots of other cool new cars and EVs being released. In fact, across the board, automakers are promising to have either a majority of or their entire vehicle lines fully electric in the coming years. Although Tesla has always been a popular option, other automakers are gaining traction in the market, Kelley Blue Book explains. 

GM announced that on its path to all-electric vehicles, it plans to release 30 new electric vehicles worldwide by 2025. Daimler, the parent company of Mercedes-Benz, also aims to go fully electric for vehicles by the end of the decade. To further that, Mercedes-Benz plans to have electric vehicles in all of its segments by only 2022. 

Governments look to expand infrastructure for EVs

According to CNBC, in the U.S., the Biden administration wants to build a national EV charging system as part of a larger $2 trillion infrastructure plan. President Biden wants to have over half a million charging stations put in place by the end of 2030. This proposed bill hopes to establish these stations as a future need and help lower CO2 emissions in the U.S.

Similarly, McKinsey & Company reports that across the world, countries like Denmark and the U.K. announced that they would ban gasoline-powered vehicles after 2030. With changes like that forthcoming, infrastructures will have no choice but to expand to accommodate EVs. The European Union and the United Kingdom have already changed the International Code Council’s building codes for parking lots with more than 20 parking spaces to have a minimum number of EV charging stations by the beginning of 2025.

RELATED: Dodge Says It Won’t Make Electric Cars, It Will Make eMuscle, Which Is Somehow Different, but Not Really

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Tesla Battery Recycling Might Just Save the World

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Tesla has made a huge impact on the automotive industry with its electric vehicles. The electric vehicle and clean energy company sought to find alternative energy sources to help protect our environment. It has been successful in creating vehicles that are both sustainable and appealing to consumers. Electric vehicle batteries are one solution to reducing carbon emissions, but they come with their own problems as well. Tesla’s battery recycling may save the world from another climate crisis.

Tesla battery recycling is the solution to a problem we didn’t know we had

A model of a battery pack and electric motor | Costfoto/Barcroft Media via Getty Images

We have lived through some troubling times in recent years. It often seems like there are more problems than we have solutions for as a society. Carbon emissions are an issue that most countries have been forced to agree on. World leaders have had to take a stand on either side of the issue, and advanced nations have universally recognized the auto industry’s role in polluting the environment.

The solution was clear…or so we thought. Experts believed that once we found alternative sustainable fuel sources for the world’s billions of vehicles, we could drastically reduce carbon emissions. This plan is hardly close to coming to fruition, and we have already hit another roadblock. It turns out that materials used to make many electric battery modules like cobalt come from deep within the ocean.

Deep-sea mining could have many unintended consequences. As electric vehicles become more popular, materials like cobalt will be more in demand, and more deep-sea mining will occur. According to Electrek, Tesla had the foresight to develop a recycling process for these coveted batteries.

How are Tesla batteries recycled?

A battery from a Nissan Leaf electric vehicle is on show in the foyer of the Envision battery manufacturing plant at Nissan's plant in Sunderland, north east England on July 1, 2021.
Electric car battery | OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images

Tesla claims that the company can recover 92% of battery cell material from batteries that have reached the end of their life cycle. The Tesla Gigafacotry 1 site in Nevada is the first location to test the company’s battery recycling system. The automaker will process used batteries and battery manufacturing scrap to extract cobalt, lithium, and other materials and metals. These materials will then be used to make new Tesla batteries.

The process may seem simple, but it is unique and revolutionary. Electric vehicle batteries are expensive throughout the automotive industry because of the scarcity of the materials they use. This battery recycling process can drive prices down as well as reduce deep-sea mining.

Can electric vehicle battery recycling save the world?

Volkswagen employees wire the battery on a line for the VW ID.3 during a press tour of Volkswagen's Transparent Factory.
Volkswagen employees wire the battery on a line for the VW ID.3 | Sebastian Kahnert/picture alliance via Getty Images

Battery electric vehicles are rapidly becoming the most popular type of electric vehicle on the market. As a result, automakers will need large supplies of cobalt as well as other metals and minerals. Searching for these metals and minerals could cause major environmental issues. Tesla’s acknowledgment of the importance and scarcity of the materials that are used for battery cells is a huge step in the right direction.

Tesla’s battery recycling can demonstrate responsible electric vehicle production to the entire automotive industry. If other automakers follow suit, the industry could avoid potentially causing another climate crisis through excessive deep-sea mining. Tesla’s battery recycling proves that electric vehicles can be completely sustainable and are much greener than gas-powered vehicles over long periods of time.

RELATED: Will EV Batteries Truly Become Affordable in 2023?

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2021 Ford Ranger Tremor: Critics and Buyers Agree About the Ford Truck

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor has regularly been regarded as one of the most capable Ford trucks so far. The Tremor off-road package includes additional upgrades that make the Range a contender in an area it might have been otherwise overlooked. Check out the upgrades offered with the Tremor off-road package.

How much is a 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor?

2021 Ford Ranger Tremor XLT and Lariat | Ford

The 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor package adds an additional $4,290 onto the Ford Ranger XLT or Lariat. The Ranger XLT starts at $30,960, while the Lariat starts at $33,160. Both of these are still cheaper than the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, which starts at $44,325. You have to make a few additional adjustments bringing the total price to around $6,000 extra for the Tremor.

With the better-upgraded suspension, skid plates, and tow hooks, the Tremor adds many additional features. It also includes Trail Control and Terrain Management systems to help keep the fun contained off-road.

When it comes down to the sales numbers, the Ranger has been selling well in 2020 and 2021. According to GoodCarBadCar, the Ranger sold 101,485 units in 2020. In 2021 so far, it has sold 64,331. In comparison, the top-selling truck is the 2021 Toyota Tacoma. The Tacoma sold 238,805 units in 2020 and 162,854 units in 2021 so far.

Critics seem pleased with the 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor

In a review by Car and Driver, the critics said, “a new moderately fortified Tremor package brings meaningful enhancements to the trail performance of Ford’s aging small truck.” While it isn’t perfect, the Tremor package brings better tires, an electronic rear locking differential, metal steps, and power switches for accessories. You can also add some more performance upgrades and packages if the Tremor doesn’t offer everything needed.

MotorTrend even called the 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor the best version of the Ranger ever produced. With the addition of the Tremor package, some of the body issues and ride quality issues have been fixed. The stiffer suspension makes the truck have a comfortable ride and excellent handling no matter what the environment. “The result is the best-riding and best-handling Ranger you can buy,” MotorTrend said.

Consumer Reports didn’t love the Ranger in general but thought the upgrades provided by the Tremor package were helpful. While the overall score of 46 wasn’t great for the Ranger, this didn’t include a complete rating of the Tremor package. Kelley Blue Book noted that some of the above-average features on the Tremor include the electronic differential, suspension tune, and the Trail Control system.

This truck is a well-rounded option from the 2021 lineup

Overall, the Tremor package on the 2021 Ford Ranger makes a capable truck even more capable. The sales figures show that the car is selling well. The overall predicted owner satisfaction scored a four out of five from Consumer Reports. Owners seemed pleased with the driving experience of the Ford Ranger, the comfort, and the styling. 73% of owners would purchase the Ford truck again.

The single-engine, body, and bed choice is a minor drawback. However, the 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor makes up for it elsewhere. The Ranger is an excellent truck for off-roading at a reasonable price. Trucks like the Toyota Tacoma are just as capable but come with a higher price tag. The Ford Ranger Tremor does it all for less than $42,000.

RELATED: American Trucks and SUVs Are Bigger Than World War II Tanks

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Is the Tesla Model S Plaid’s Yoke Steering Wheel Really That Bad?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

When a yoke steering wheel pops up on a concept car, many look and scoff. “That’ll never make it to production,” they say, and in most cases they’re right. But Tesla proved everyone wrong by fitting a yoke steering wheel in their Tesla Model S Plaid, and folks were pissed. At first, even the NHTSA couldn’t make heads or tails of it, but after being driven and drag raced this long, is it really all that bed?

The Tesla yoke wheel | Tesla

The Tesla Model S Plaid yoke steering wheel has a learning curve, but you get used to it

I’ve watched a bundle of Tesla Model S Plaid reviews to find the answer to this question alone. And as each reviewer performed three-point turns or navigated city streets, the mandatory yoke steering wheel caused no problems. It handled like you’d expect a normal car to, allowing the wheel to slip through your fingers and return to the center position. Sure, you’ll miss the wheel every now and then, but eventually, your hands will fall into place.

And there’s no denying that a yoke steering wheel has a few advantages. For starters, it forces drivers to keep both hands in the three o’clock and nine o’clock positions, which is safest for car control and airbag deployment. And the yoke allows better visibility of the road ahead and the screen displaying information as you drive. And hey, if F1 drivers can handle it, so can you.

So this nonconventional wheel isn’t all that bad, and if the reinventing stopped there the yoke would be fine. But Elon Musk insisted on making it original and went a step too far.

The yoke steering wheel isn’t a problem, the button layout is

We say button layout, but they’re not buttons at all. Scattered around the wheel are touch sensors rather than physical buttons. And their surface area is vague, to say the least. Now, typically, the wheel is home to such controls as volume, Bluetooth, and car information. But on the Tesla Model S Plaid, that information is accessed through the two screens (one behind the steering wheel, one in the center). So what buttons are on the steering wheel?

Rather than your conventional stalks, the Tesla stuffed the blinkers, headlights, wipers, and even the horn in various nonintuitive positions. Sure, it makes the cabin look cleaner, but at the cost of added confusion. You don’t click the stalks up or down but press the buttons (and sometimes miss). And you don’t mash the center of the wheel for the horn, which is not only effective automotive communication but a great way to manage your anger. Instead, you press your thumb against the tiny horn icon.

Hod Tesla stopped engineering at the stalks, the yoke wheel would feel like any other wheel. Though there’s one issue that can’t be overlooked: safety.

Tesla Model S Plaid driving down road
Tesla Model S Plaid | Tesla

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been at odds over the yoke steering wheel since January. But Tesla has complied with all of the administration’s standards, with the NHTSA telling Car and Driver “NHTSA’s standards do not prohibit non-circular steering controls, but manufacturers must ensure the steering control meets all requirements for occupant impact protection.” In other words, it doesn’t have to be round, it just has to be safe.

So if you can get over the overly complicated button layout, then you can have a ludicrously fast car that does 0-60 in under two seconds (on a prepared surface). But the yoke steering wheel isn’t what kills it for most people, the lack of traditional stalks is.

RELATED: Mercedes EQS vs. Tesla Model S Plaid: Super Electric Cars?

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