The true cost of mining electric car-battery metals

Tech Insider : Environment

Your average EV has six times more mineral content than a petrol- or diesel-powered vehicle. All those metals need to be dug, scraped, blasted, or leached out of the earth. There is massive demand for batteries as countries eye up ambitious zero-emissions targets. But what's the cost?

Tesla's first major Model 3 refresh in years just hit the US. See the new features.

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Tesla's updated Model 3 interior includes wraparound ambient lighting
Tesla's updated Model 3 interior includes wraparound ambient lighting

Tesla

EV owner gets fined after trying to use a toaster to warm up his car battery, sparking a house fire

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A photo of a car driving through some snowy weather in Denmark.
A Danish man was hit with a substantial fine after using a toaster to warm his EV battery. The toaster ended up catching fire and damaging the car, as well as the neighbor's home.

PELLE RINK/AFP via Getty Images

Car dealers are worried about an EV reckoning. I asked our transportation reporter what's going on.

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Joe Biden giving hte thumbs up while driving a white car
President Biden test drives an electric Hummer in 2021.

MANDEL NGAN

Some electric vehicles can charge while they drive thanks to special coils installed under a street in Detroit

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A blue electric van drives past a rectangular metal wireless charging coil exposed in the street
The wireless charging technology belongs to a company called Electreon.

Paul Sancya/AP Photo

A reporter drove a Rivian to 126 EV fast-chargers in LA and found out-of-order signs on dozens of them

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A Rivian charging at an EV charging station.
A reporter with The Wall Street Journal went to over 100 electric vehicle charging stalls in California, and ran into issues at dozens of them.

Getty/Patrick T. Fallon

A Tesla owner says his 'heart missed a beat' when he received a $20,000 bill after the battery was damaged by rain

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A photo of a Tesla vehicle door handle covered in rain drops
Tesla battery replacements can cost between $5,000 and $20,000.

HUIZENG HU/ Getty Images

A second Nikola electric semi-truck caught fire during tests to determine the cause of another blaze

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Nikola TRE battery-electric truck
Nikola's TRE electric truck.

Nikola

Ford F-150 drivers say their vehicle speakers are making weird noises that sound like a 'static boom,' as the carmaker promises to fix the issue

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Ford F150
Ford's F-150 is one of America's most popular pickup trucks.

Getty Images

A team of engineers turned a Toyota Land Cruiser into an EV and drove it underwater for 4 miles

Tech Insider
The car as it is about to set off on its journey across the Darwin Harbour
The 1978 Toyota was turned into an EV for the stunt in Darwin, Australia.

Bridgit Phillips

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