The EV Podcast - US Dependency on China, Rivian's New Brooklyn Store, and the Future of EVs: A Comprehensive Discussion

Show Notes:<br/>Welcome to a new episode of the EV Podcast hosted by Ainslie Ingram, where we delve into the latest news and updates surrounding electric vehicles, charging stations, and more.<br/> <br/>This episode discusses the United States' ongoing efforts to reduce its dependency on China's production of electric vehicles and renewable energy industries. This includes its attempts to develop its own sources for rare earth elements, critical components for electric vehicles and wind turbines. We discuss the challenges faced by the U.S. in independently processing these elements, but also note the promising potential of domestic processing plants, such as the Mountain Pass operation, that are due to open in 2022.<br/> <br/>We also cover the new store opened in Brooklyn by Rivian, the American clean energy company. This store offers customers an educational, hands-on experience with Rivian's electric vehicle products and home charging solutions, highlighting an emerging trend for a blended retail experience in the EV market.<br/> <br/>The potential collaboration between South Korea's LG Energy Solutions and India's JSW Group is put on the table, indicating a rise in local EV component production in India. The partnership could help India achieve a sustainable, localized production of EVs and fulfill its ambitious goal of making 30% of all new vehicle sales to be EVs by 2030.<br/> <br/>We discuss a forum post that hints at a potential upgrade of the Tesla Model 3 Performance in Europe and address the increasing strikes by United Auto Workers targeting Stellantis and General Motors. These strikes highlight the growing concerns surrounding job security in an industry rapidly shifting towards electric vehicles.<br/> <br/>Toyota's struggles to keep up with its own targets for EV development and sales are analysed, as is its lag in planning charging stations. The hosts discuss Toyota's diversified approach to EVs and how this may have slowed their progression to producing fully electric vehicles. However, Toyota's potential collaboration with Panasonic for lithium-ion battery production is a cause for optimism.<br/> <br/>In contrast, we discuss BMW's choice to ban sales of gas-powered motorcycles in the U.S due to emission concerns and what this signals for the company's shift towards electric vehicles. The hosts also stress the importance of having an efficient network of charging stations.<br/> <br/>Job security concerns in the rapidly evolving field of electric and autonomous vehicles are highlighted. As automakers invest heavily in this technology, unions are calling for retraining programs and job security measures. The segment underlines the importance of ensuring that everyone involved benefits from this transition.<br/> <br/>Lastly, we break down the new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) battery recycling rules, and the significant impact they have on promoting a circular economy and sustainability in the EV industry. The rules could help ease concerns about lithium shortages, a vital component in EV batteries, by allowing its reuse.<br/>Stay tuned for more exciting updates in the world of electric vehicles with us on The EV Podcast.<br/> <br/>Links:<br/>Even the US's planned rare earth magnet factory can't shake the influence of China<br/>Rivian opens store in Brooklyn for R1T, R1S demo drives & more<br/>LG Energy may partner with JSW to make EV batteries in India<br/>Tesla Model 3 Performance documents in Europe hint at exciting motor updates<br/>