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China May Have Just Pulled the Plug on Biden’s EV Ambitions

Posted on Wednesday, November 8, 2023
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by Neil Banerji
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45 Comments
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AMAC Exclusive – By Neil Banerji

President Joe Biden delivers remarks during an announcement with Tritium on electric vehicle charger manufacturing Tuesday, February 8, 2022, in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz)
President Joe Biden’s planned “electric vehicle revolution” has run into plenty of pushback from consumers and manufacturers in the United States, but it now faces another, potentially even more daunting challenge as well – Communist China. Late last month, Beijing moved to significantly restrict exports of graphite, a mineral used in the production of electric vehicle (EV) batteries, citing “national security concerns.” Although the Chinese government has claimed that the restrictions are not targeted at any one country, the news came just days after Biden announced new limits on the kinds of semiconductor products U.S. companies can sell to China. Graphite is essential to electric vehicle production because it is used to create battery anodes, or the negative terminal on a battery. There are currently no known substitutes, and each EV battery pack requires between 110 and 220 pounds of graphite. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, worldwide demand for graphite has skyrocketed by 250 percent since 2018, coinciding with the growth in the EV market. Graphite is also used to manufacture semiconductors and in the aerospace industry – two other fields that have seen significant growth in recent years. According to the International Energy Agency, demand is expected to rise an astonishing 20-25 times by 2040. That has been good news for China, which currently controls more than 90 percent of the global graphite market. While two other countries, Turkey and Brazil, have larger graphite reserves (27.3 percent and 22.4 percent of the global supply, respectively) China has far greater refining and export capabilities. China also has a stranglehold on the refining of other rare earth minerals like lithium and cobalt that are essential for EV battery production. China’s graphite restrictions have potentially disastrous implications for the Biden administration and the automotive industry in the United States and throughout the West, which has dived headfirst into an electric vehicle “revolution.” The United States imports about one third of its graphite from China and has few other options. Earlier this year, the White House proposed a new rule requiring two-thirds of all new vehicles sold in the United States to be electric by 2032. Given that less than six percent of all new cars sold last year were electric, Biden’s plan combined with China’s recent moves would mean a massive overhaul of the entire auto manufacturing industry – and significant cost increases for consumers. While electric vehicles have come down somewhat in price recently (although still remain, on average, about $5,000 more expensive than gas-powered vehicles) China’s graphite restrictions now threaten to send prices soaring. Some producers have been stockpiling graphite, but are warning that without a steady supply from China, they simply won’t be able to keep up with demand. Biden’s EV mandate has also put automakers in a particularly precarious financial position that could become untenable if there is a graphite supply crunch. Ford alone has said it expects to lose $4.5 billion to comply with the mandate, and will likely lay off thousands of workers. A graphite shortage would make things even worse. China’s moves to restrict graphite exports have also highlighted how Biden’s “green” agenda is not just economically foolish, but a legitimate national security risk, as it relies heavily on Chinese resources. As tensions with the communist country continue to rise, Beijing has proven that it now has the power to influence the American economy in a significant way – and that it is willing to use such power. Other countries throughout the West could also feel the pinch from China’s new policy, as many European nations have even more ambitious EV plans. Meanwhile, Chinese car companies could be set to make major inroads in global markets. Chinese EVs are already cheaper than models built elsewhere and are showing up on roadways in Russia, Australia, and Southeast Asia. In the first eight months of this year, China surpassed Japan as the world’s largest car exporter, with shipments surging 72 percent to 2.3 million vehicles. A quarter of those were electric – including 350,000 EVs to nine European countries. Industry experts say that Chinese carmakers could double their market share to 33 percent by 2030. Biden’s EV mandate may thus be leading to a worst-case scenario for the United States and its Western allies. American automakers, already hit hard in recent decades by offshoring and rising costs, are now threatened with a supply crunch in the materials necessary to effectuate Biden’s already unrealistic EV “revolution.” In addition, China looks poised to take a commanding lead in the global vehicle market – both electric and gas-powered. Despite this looming disaster, Biden has shown no indication that he is willing to reverse course. Once again, the economic and national security interests of the United States are taking a back seat to rigid left-wing ideology. Neil Banerji is a proud Las Vegas resident and former student at the University of Oxford. In his spare time, he enjoys reading Winston Churchill and Edmund Burke.

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Rod
Rod
11 months ago

Best news I have heard coming out of China. The EV market is nothing but a democrat scam on the American Citizens and the world. This is what happens when you crawl into bed with the communist. Build the pipeline.

Rik
Rik
11 months ago

Electrical Vehicles? . . . NOT GOING TO HAPPEN ANYTIME SOON! . . . Just “Wishing and Hoping” Imagination Gone Wild by these Crazy Democrats. Our Economy is Results Driven, Not by Unrealistic Dreams!

Lloyd Grisham
Lloyd Grisham
11 months ago

Biden and his administration have obviously set out to destroy this country. There can be no other explanation for their policies and actions. If something doesn’t change quickly we are toast. Sad part is most people are not paying attention or just don’t care.

James DeBona
James DeBona
11 months ago

I don’t mind these damn fools learning a hard lesson when it comes to EV’s, stupid people always learn their lessons the hard way! but killing off the oil, gas & coal industries, not to mention the American automobile companies before the EV industry is established and proves itself viable is just plain insanity! Add to that the mandate to replace gas powered vehicles with electric by some arbitrary and rushed date and, well, you get the picture! Why anyone votes for these brain-dead fools is a total mystery to me! Really puts it into perspective; why they first had to scare the crap out of the population over fake “climate change” first, huh?

Robert Dapper
Robert Dapper
11 months ago

How can this group of misfits and Obama rejects get everything so wrong? Oh hell, just answered my own question!

Stephen Russell
Stephen Russell
11 months ago

Good move China Thanks

Lon
Lon
11 months ago

Check James Tour and Mark Mills. Replacing fossil fuels with batteries powered by wind and solar will NEVER happen. Biden is a… you know… the thing!

Tplorable
Tplorable
11 months ago

All I can say is our president and his followers are dumbfu&ks!

Taz
Taz
11 months ago

Biden needs a granite lead to his “A_ Hole to shock him back to reality.

Kyle Buy you some guns,and learn how to shoot
Kyle Buy you some guns,and learn how to shoot
11 months ago

Bieden needs to go. As quickly as possible. Kyle L.

paul
paul
11 months ago

good lets stop the get rid of oil once and for all evs are not ready for prime time we need oil to sustain our civilization ………

Jeri
Jeri
11 months ago

I wish China would rat out all the deals with the Biden crime family.

Dave Mahan
Dave Mahan
11 months ago

No doubt Joe will pay more attention to the Chinese Communists than he will the American people.

Ladybug
Ladybug
11 months ago

Love it! While Biden kisses China’s butt and gets his millions, I’ve been wondering when the communist would turn and slit Biden’s throat! China is never to be trusted but idiot dems just don’t get it! Never thought I would agree with the savages of China but today I say thanks you! Who is next for a throat slashing? They have your number…Watch out!!!

Robert Zuccaro
Robert Zuccaro
11 months ago

EV cars = Chinese $$$ = Chinese military.

Jeanette
Jeanette
11 months ago

There aren’t enough EV chargers if you are on a road trip..I will keep driving a gas fueled vehicle..problem with This administration is with the old saying: “plan ahead and make sure everything is in place before you change over”.I also will not go Solar and don’t believe there is really something called ‘green energy’.. a lot of miracle stuff being peddled by this administration.

Casey C Matt
Casey C Matt
11 months ago

I hope China stands firm and that along with common sense we can put this 4 wheel toaster idea to bed for good.
Also gives a slap in the face to the tyrants in DC who continually insist on weaponizing trade. Hurts when it slaps back doesn’t it Joe?

Allan E Brem
Allan E Brem
11 months ago

It is a good thing that China may hav plans to stop his illegal shenanigans, it is obvious from yesterday’s elections that the American people are not concerned enough to so much as vote.

Tim Toroian
Tim Toroian
11 months ago

Biden will never awaken from his pipe dream.

Gabe Hanzeli kent wa
Gabe Hanzeli kent wa
11 months ago

this is hilarious.

Kyle Buy you some guns,and learn how to shoot
Kyle Buy you some guns,and learn how to shoot
11 months ago

Maby now Congress will get some sense in there heads and tell Bossman no deal. Not the time for Electrics. Kyle L.

sue
sue
11 months ago

Do you think Biden noticed what China did?

Sarah Oscapinski
Sarah Oscapinski
11 months ago

While Biden is pushing for EV vehicles, why not go to hybrids first. This seems to be a common sense step towards all EV’s. Every HyBrid owner I have talked to loves their vehicle. If I could afford one I definitely would but one.

Will
Will
11 months ago

Biden/Obama has done sold us out to China , that is why he has all these mandates. That is why he has done away with our oil reserves , and thats why he evacuated Afghanistan so fast because of the lithium their China took it over .

Roman
Roman
11 months ago

Can you hear Communist China say “check”? For those that play chess.

Gary Metzinger
Gary Metzinger
11 months ago

We can pursue another alternative hydrogen fuel cell cars. They are proven and efficient and even Power your home. We just need to replace wind, turbines and solar forms with small modular nuclear reactors, which have been approved for manufacturer production by the federal government. Let’s get on with it, we can tell China to shove it.

Free Citizen
Free Citizen
11 months ago

How dare you say disaster and Bidemented in the same sentence, their is no alternative left extremist way to phrase the truth sorry Charlie but only the most disasterous POLICYS are here free for the implementation.

NeilRK
NeilRK
11 months ago

No worries. There are at least two businesses in USA that produce synthetic graphite from coal. We just have to continue to mine coal.

David Millikan
David Millikan
11 months ago

Goodbye Communist China. We NEVER needed you.

sue
sue
11 months ago

Glad to hear this news!

B Davenport
B Davenport
11 months ago

Biden’s unyielding push for electric cars, as well as the conversion of every gasoline or gas-powered appliance to electric power, strongly suggests that there’s a personal financial interest in doing so. One money trail after another has been revealed, so why would any reasonable person believe this to be any different?

President Joe Biden walks with Vice President Kamala Harris along the West Colonnade of the White House, Friday, May 26, 2023, to the Oval Office. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz)
President Donald J. Trump delivers remarks at the 2020 Council for National Policy Meeting Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, at the Ritz-Carlton in Pentagon City, Va. (Official White House Photo by Tia Dufour)

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