EV myths muddy the road to electrification
Key takeaways
- Claims that electric vehicle batteries are tainted by exploitative mineral supply chains are discrediting non-fossil cars as electrified road transport booms.
- In Australia, sales jumped over 150% in April year-on-year, while in the Asia Pacific region they rose 80% for the first three months of 2026 — excluding China, where massive sales growth has plateaued.
- IEA executive director Fatih Birol said in May that record EV sales are "providing some relief now amid the largest oil supply shock in history," and that falling battery prices will provide further industry momentum.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Claims that electric vehicle batteries are tainted by exploitative mineral supply chains are discrediting non-fossil cars as electrified road transport booms.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Fop MAre EVs as unethical as petrol cars?Image: JENS SCHLUETER/AFP/Getty Images Advertisement Electric vehicles (EVs) have been riding an unprecedented wave of popularity in the wake of the global oil crisis sparked by the conflict in the Middle East.
In Australia, sales jumped over 150% in April year-on-year, while in the Asia Pacific region they rose 80% for the first three months of 2026 — excluding China, where massive sales growth has plateaued. Around 75% more EVs were sold in Latin America, and almost a third more in Europe, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).