West Central Reporter

Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Jacksonville) said in a May 14 Facebook post that the growing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) has raised concerns about the industry's environmental impact and the ability to meet increasing demand.

"As the government forces EV and battery storage as a 'clean' alternative to fossil fuels, I have long had concerns that we are trading one pollution for another while turning a blind eye," Davidsmeyer said. "We are, in fact, just pretending that we are getting rid of pollution, while just increasing it on the other side of the planet."

In his post, Davidsmeyer shared a link to a Washington Post article about the need for nickel, a crucial component in electric vehicle batteries. 

The article discusses alarming levels of toxic waste generated during the nickel extraction process in Indonesia. Initially, the companies involved planned to dispose of the waste by pumping it into the ocean, but public pressure forced them to reconsider, the article said. The article also raises questions about the safety of the on-land storage alternative proposed by the companies, Davidsmeyer said.

A report by The Illinois Times in January 2023 revealed that the demand for electric vehicles is outpacing supply. The popularity of EVs was further fueled by the availability of rebates offered by the state. The Ford F-150 Lightning, for instance, saw overwhelming demand, forcing the company to stop taking orders for the 2022 model year, the article said. With projected increases in production capacity, it will still take nearly three years to fulfill the initial order of 200,000 vehicles, the article said. The starting price for the 2023 model year has also seen an increase, beginning at $55,000.

In Illinois, these EV rebates are part of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). The rebates are currently unavailable. The second round of applications closed on Jan. 31, 2023. These rebates demonstrate the state's commitment to incentivizing the adoption of electric vehicles as part of its efforts to address climate change and create job opportunities.