The Graveyards of China
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On the outskirts of the Chinese city of Hangzhou, a small dilapidated temple overlooks a graveyard of sorts: a series of fields where hundreds upon hundreds of electric cars have been abandoned among weeds and garbage.
Similar pools of unwanted battery-powered vehicles have sprouted up in at least half a dozen cities across China, though a few have been cleaned up. In Hangzhou, some cars have been left for so long that plants are sprouting from their trunks. Others were discarded in such a hurry that fluffy toys still sit on their dashboards.
The scenes recall the aftermath of the nation’s bike-sharing crash in 2018, when tens of millions of bicycles ended up in rivers, ditches and disused parking lots after the rise and fall of startups backed by big tech such as Ofo and Mobike.
This time, the cars were likely deserted after the ride-hailing companies that owned them failed, or because they were about to become obsolete as automakers rolled out EV after EV with better features and longer driving ranges. They’re a striking representation of the excess and waste that can happen when capital floods into a burgeoning industry, and perhaps also an odd monument to the seismic progress in electric transportation over the last few years.
About a decade ago, encouraged by government subsidies, hundreds of automakers across China, both established players and startups, waded into electric-car manufacturing. They churned out huge numbers of early-stage EVs — relatively no-frills cars whose batteries in some instances could only run for around 100 kilometers (62 miles) on a charge.
Those vehicles were mostly bought by ride-hailing companies that leased them to drivers. “At the beginning of China’s EV market, delivery numbers were driven by car-sharing fleets,” said Young Huang, a senior analyst with JSC Automotive, a consultancy with offices in Shanghai and Stuttgart. “Only a few private customers chose to buy them.”
The demand helped juice an industry that has grown exponentially ever since. China is now the world leader in clean cars, producing around 6 million EVs and plug-in hybrids last year, or almost one in every three new cars sold domestically. It accounts for 60% of the world’s current electric fleet, and has the most extensive EV charging infrastructure on Earth — also built with government support.
But that lightning-fast development also left behind plenty of casualties. Many of the ride-hailing companies that were early adopters of EVs have gone out of business. There are now around 100 Chinese electric-car makers, down from roughly 500 in 2019.
The graveyards are a troubling consequence of that consolidation. Not only are the sites an eyesore, getting rid of EVs so quickly reduces their climate benefit considering they’re more emissions-intensive to build and only produce an advantage over combustion cars after a few years. Each of the vehicles’ spent batteries also contain precious ingredients like nickel, lithium and cobalt — metals that could be recycled to make China’s EV industry more environmentally friendly.
According to local media reports, the government of Hangzhou has vowed to dispose of the cars, which started to accumulate in 2019. But when Bloomberg News visited late last month, reporters uncovered several sites filled with abandoned EVs in the city’s Yuhang and West Lake districts after scouring satellite images and hacking through overgrown dirt paths.
For the rest: https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2023-china-ev-graveyards/
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City planning to make neighborhoods self-sustainable and walkable would do more for carbon emissions than anything EVs could do.
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City planning to make neighborhoods self-sustainable and walkable would do more for carbon emissions than anything EVs could do.
@Aqua-Letifer said in The Graveyards of China:
City planning to make neighborhoods self-sustainable and walkable would do more for carbon emissions than anything EVs could do.
Bike paths. Don't forget bike paths.
“Cry havoc and let slip the DOGE of war!”
Those who cheered as J-6 American prisoners were locked in solitary for 18 months without trial, now suddenly fight tooth and nail for foreign terrorists’ "due process". — Buck Sexton
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Something else I'd like to see a return to (maybe prominent in your area, but not in mine) are dual use buildings...Either small shops with family living quarters above the business or apartments above businesses.
If a person or family can do most of their shopping and entertainment in three or four city blocks square, they can walk, bike or heck, even take a small (golfcart sized) EV.
“Cry havoc and let slip the DOGE of war!”
Those who cheered as J-6 American prisoners were locked in solitary for 18 months without trial, now suddenly fight tooth and nail for foreign terrorists’ "due process". — Buck Sexton
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And another thing...
I wish we would change the tax code even more, to facilitate the restoration of older buildings. The old hospital where I worked for many years is a prime example...Built in the mid 1930's, it has a lot of art deco design elements. The building, as according to the engineers and architects, is good for another 200 years...It has very good bone. But it also has huge HVAC, plumbing and electrical problems. It needs gutting (yeah, it has plenty of asbestos) down to the supporting structure inside and then all new wiring and pipes.
But man, what you'd have when you got through...Three floors of whatever you wanted with enough parking for two or three hundred cars. Or multiple small businesses.
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And another thing...
I wish we would change the tax code even more, to facilitate the restoration of older buildings. The old hospital where I worked for many years is a prime example...Built in the mid 1930's, it has a lot of art deco design elements. The building, as according to the engineers and architects, is good for another 200 years...It has very good bone. But it also has huge HVAC, plumbing and electrical problems. It needs gutting (yeah, it has plenty of asbestos) down to the supporting structure inside and then all new wiring and pipes.
But man, what you'd have when you got through...Three floors of whatever you wanted with enough parking for two or three hundred cars. Or multiple small businesses.
@Jolly said in The Graveyards of China:
I wish we would change the tax code even more, to facilitate the restoration of older buildings. The old hospital where I worked for many years is a prime example.
"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08
The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.
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@Aqua-Letifer said in The Graveyards of China:
City planning to make neighborhoods self-sustainable and walkable would do more for carbon emissions than anything EVs could do.
Bike paths. Don't forget bike paths.
@Jolly said in The Graveyards of China:
@Aqua-Letifer said in The Graveyards of China:
City planning to make neighborhoods self-sustainable and walkable would do more for carbon emissions than anything EVs could do.
Bike paths. Don't forget bike paths.
Never do.
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Something else I'd like to see a return to (maybe prominent in your area, but not in mine) are dual use buildings...Either small shops with family living quarters above the business or apartments above businesses.
If a person or family can do most of their shopping and entertainment in three or four city blocks square, they can walk, bike or heck, even take a small (golfcart sized) EV.
@Jolly said in The Graveyards of China:
Something else I'd like to see a return to (maybe prominent in your area, but not in mine) are dual use buildings...Either small shops with family living quarters above the business or apartments above businesses.
If a person or family can do most of their shopping and entertainment in three or four city blocks square, they can walk, bike or heck, even take a small (golfcart sized) EV.
Where I grew up, the second floor of every building everywhere was a residence. Plumbing company, bar, restaurant, real estate office, marine outfitter, didn't matter.
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@Jolly said in The Graveyards of China:
I wish we would change the tax code even more, to facilitate the restoration of older buildings. The old hospital where I worked for many years is a prime example.
@George-K said in The Graveyards of China:
@Jolly said in The Graveyards of China:
I wish we would change the tax code even more, to facilitate the restoration of older buildings. The old hospital where I worked for many years is a prime example.
Glad to see them do something with it. I wish they'd do something with Big Charity.
My old place wouldn't be that expensive to do...Much, much smaller building.
More than you'd care to know about the old Huey Free...
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Something else I'd like to see a return to (maybe prominent in your area, but not in mine) are dual use buildings...Either small shops with family living quarters above the business or apartments above businesses.
If a person or family can do most of their shopping and entertainment in three or four city blocks square, they can walk, bike or heck, even take a small (golfcart sized) EV.
@Jolly said in The Graveyards of China:
Something else I'd like to see a return to (maybe prominent in your area, but not in mine) are dual use buildings...Either small shops with family living quarters above the business or apartments above businesses.
If a person or family can do most of their shopping and entertainment in three or four city blocks square, they can walk, bike or heck, even take a small (golfcart sized) EV.
You must have grown up in Asia! That is very common everywhere.
Below is a pic I took from the internet from Singapore, but typical same in Taiwan.
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My building is 4 stories tall.
First floor is a restaurant, dentist, financial advisor (Jones), and a dentist.
"Downtown" is full of dual-use buildings. Most of these buildings are over 100 years old.
Down the street from me:
Across the street from me:
Kitty corner from me:
