In response to the letter “EVs are not carbon neutral” (Our Readers’ Views, Feb. 22): The oil industry has spent millions of dollars to cast doubt on the environmental benefits of electric cars. In doing so, the oil industry also deflects attention from the far greater path of destruction they have left behind, in Nigeria, South America and even in America. They focus attention on rare-earth elements used in EVs, but ignore the same elements used in catalytic converters, cordless power tools, and smartphones.
The oil industry focuses on unjust practices in mineral mines, but wants us to ignore their impacts or use of attack dogs on Indigenous people from North Dakota to Alaska. The Quinault, Yakama, Nez Perce, Warm Springs, Umatilla, Lummi, and Swinomish Indigenous nations were strong supporters of our efforts to prevent new oil export terminals. Our grid is much cleaner than tailpipes, and we cannot solve the climate crisis without EVs and better transit.
Every EV sold represents a $33,000 loss to the oil industry in unspent gas money, and saves money for the owner because electricity costs about 70 percent less per mile than gasoline. James Ault’s letter is part of the doubt and misinformation campaign created by the oil industry.
