A number of electric vehicle, battery factories are being canceled

China’s EV surge vs Western “own goal”

• Multiple comments highlight China’s ~50% EV penetration, dense charging build-out, and rapid two‑wheel electrification as evidence the transition is real and scalable.
• Western tariffs and “trade war” policies are framed as self‑sabotage that hand long‑term advantage to Chinese firms like BYD.
• Several point out that Europe and the UK are further along than the quoted “10–15%” (with 20–25%+ new‑sale penetration), but still well behind China.

Tariffs, Trump, and trust in US policy

• Many see current US protectionism and tariff shocks as the main driver for canceled factories, creating extreme uncertainty for long‑lived investments.
• Repeated breaking or renegotiating of agreements is said to have damaged US credibility for decades; even future “reasonable” administrations may not restore trust.
• Others argue tariffs were predictable from long‑stated positions, but acknowledge that their scale, timing, and possible reversals are not.
• There is concern that companies will delay US factory plans rather than risk being stranded if a future administration drops tariffs.

Is the slowdown about policy or demand?

• One view: the core issue is economics, not politics—EVs remain expensive, gasoline is relatively cheap, and automakers overestimated near‑term demand and underappreciated tooling costs.
• Counter‑view: policy and subsidy rollbacks, plus lack of infrastructure and industrial strategy, are central; China’s success undercuts “too expensive” narratives.

Charging, infrastructure, and housing type

• Homeowners report 120V or modest 240V charging as entirely adequate for typical US driving, with rare need for fast chargers.
• Apartment dwellers (e.g., NYC) often have no practical way to charge, and see this as the main blocker; many argue this could be fixed with targeted public and utility investment.
• Debate exists over how massive grid upgrades must be; some cite China’s example or on‑site battery storage to argue it’s manageable.

Ownership experience, costs, and reliability

• Many describe EVs and PHEVs as quiet, enjoyable, and cheaper per mile, with fewer moving parts and low maintenance.
• Concerns persist about battery replacement costs and long‑term value; others respond that failures are rare so far and that warranties and falling battery prices mitigate risk.
• Tesla draws mixed views: high satisfaction with driving, but criticism of build quality, frequent issues, and heavy subsidy dependence.

Climate and transport system critique

• Several note transport as a major emissions source and see mass EV adoption as necessary, though not sufficient.
• Others argue EVs still entrench car‑centric urbanism; they advocate bikes, transit, and land‑use reform as more transformative than swapping ICE for EV.