The Race to Net Zero: will EVs get us there fast enough?

Transitioning to electric vehicles is essential to meeting our climate goals. But there are so many barriers to overcome – from expanding EV charging infrastructure, to updating the power grid, to mining the metals that make batteries go.

In the first of a two-part series on decarbonizing transportation, we try to answer the critical question: is it all happening fast enough to avoid the worst climate impacts?

Featuring: Craig Bentley, Nora Naughton, Sara Baldwin, Thea Riofrancos

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LINKS

EV transition predictive models

The 2035 report • (Goldman School of Public Policy, UC Berkeley) The long road to electric cars • (Reuters)

Consumer education and survey findings

EV charging levels explained • (US DOT) GM EV Live • In a Consumer Report's survey • and a Reuters/Ipsos survey • , more than a third of Americans say they'd consider buying an EV for their next car.

Charging infrastructure

The Electric Vehicle Road Test • (Wall Street Journal) Federal money is now headed to states for building up fast EV chargers on highways • (NPR)

The grid

Why Electric Vehicles Won’t Break the Grid • (Scientific American An explosion in proposed clean energy ventures has overwhelmed the system for connecting new power sources to homes and businesses • (NY Times)

Metal extraction

• Listen to our episode The lithium gold rush • , an in-depth look at where lithium comes from, and who’s being affected by mining it. • Read the Achieving Zero Emissions with More Mobility and Less Mining • report by Thea Riofrancos.

CREDITS

Host: Nate Hegyi

Reported and produced by Felix Poon

Mixed by Felix Poon and Taylor Quimby

Edited by Taylor Quimby

Editing help from Rebecca lavoie, Justine Paradis, Jessica Hunt, and Mara Haplamazian

Rebecca Lavoie is our Executive Producer

Music for this episode by Blue Dot Sessions, and Roy Edwin Williams

Our theme music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.

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