Guessing the reason behind the lightening dropped is purely demand. People have to understand that pickups are a fraction of the F150 market. F150/250/350 cab and chassis sales are the major portion of the sales. Until EVs can get the batteries to be able to tow and haul heavier stuff For job sites and work applications, the purchases will generally be gas.
We fell behind the Japanese back in the 70s and 80s. They were buying up everything and Detroit was a debacle, and everyone was freaked out. Then Lee Iacocca and others got things back rolling to compete again.
I lived during this time, and the big thing that the Japanese had over Domestics was quality. Like everything else Chinese, price is what sells the Chinese products. I can't imagine a way that U.S. manufacturers can make a profitable $25k BEV. China is making millions.
China's very low labor costs and regulations play favorably into this. We could probably do it to, but people wouldnt like it. Its tough to compete with that.
Throw in that they also control the rare earths that are needed for most.
apnews.com
Oh for sure, but they will still require it for manufacturing other items like plastics, cosmetics, textiles, etc which they pump out in the billions. When they stop that, oil will tumble hard.
China's diesel trucks are shifting to electric. That could change global LNG and diesel demand
China is rapidly replacing its aging diesel trucks with electric models, signaling a major shift in the world’s largest vehicle market.
China is the largest importer of oil in the world. Their shift to EV vehicles will have a major impact on global oil markets.
Back when I did a lot of component costing the general rule of thumb for labor in the US vs China you figured somewhere between $180-$200/hr for labor on anything produced domestically vs $1/hr for assembly and $12/hr for machining in China. Material costs were typically flat because metals like oil are a global commodity and you pay basically the same price no mattery where you're buying it at. That was a decade ago so I'm sure those prices are higher on both ends but I bet that gap hasn't changed much.
China's diesel trucks are shifting to electric. That could change global LNG and diesel demand
China is rapidly replacing its aging diesel trucks with electric models, signaling a major shift in the world’s largest vehicle market.
China is the largest importer of oil in the world. Their shift to EV vehicles will have a major impact on global oil markets.
Sadly, the demand for electricity will far exceed the growth capacity of solar ... if we continue to buy into the addictive need for more electricity. Digital currency and AI alone will exponentially increase the demand. We're in very precarious times now. Interestingly, for personal reason, I've reduced my usage of electricity 10 fold. Does anyone realize the impact if even 10% of the population did this? It really is up to us.
The massive expansion of demand is why we need better adoption of renewables in my book. We're running out of coal and gas faster and faster with each passing day. We don't need perfection... We just need the proportional usage of non-renewable sources to drop and be replaced by renewables where possible.
We were probably doomed on the production side of renewables but we were still leading the charge on R&D. Now that's going to be completely gone too.
Yes. But, something I touched on earlier, a much greater focus on 'quality' and showing it by 'backing it' with better and longer warranties.
Companies that price me steel for needs can get me the steel components cheaper from China when trucking from the SE costs me $1800 and the container freight cost is $12k. Labor costs in China are dirt cheap and regulations are basically non existent there.
I’m more saying regulations on how things are produced, not how safe they are for the consumer. There are components here that have high regulations on worker safety that aren’t as high in China (or they weren’t when I was running a factory in the 90s).
It comes down to battery technology which has advanced faster than anticipated in the last 10 years but still has a ways to go. There are a number of companies with announced plans for batteries that would allow +600 miles per charge at a fraction of the current cost. By 2030 I would expect these batteries will be available.
