Politics & Government
Electric Vehicles (EVs) Green? New and Prior Videos Spotlight Issues
Does Larry Elder's, the Michael Moore and Jeff Gibbs videos on this topic have points of agreement? The surprising answer is "yes."
From the Daily Signal to this writer for MHProNews as today's installment of the "Reality Check" series for this Patch is Part I. Another video on this topic is among the items provided in Part II, plus other topics for your to consider.
Learn. Grow. Enjoy.
Part I
Find out what's happening in Lakelandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Analysis
Think Electric Vehicles Are ‘Green’? Think Again, Larry Elder Says in New Film
Find out what's happening in Lakelandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Tyler O'Neil | April 22, 2025
Radio host and former California gubernatorial candidate Larry Elder set out to discover the real truth about electric vehicles, and he’s releasing his new documentary on the subject on Earth Day Tuesday.
While environmental activists and EV manufacturers have crafted a narrative that EVs are not just the cars of the future but our only clean solution to an ostensible climate crisis, Elder uncovers the dirty truth: EVs require more energy to produce, provide less freedom for drivers, empower America’s chief rival in the world, and actually make things worse for the environment.
“Mass delusion has always fascinated me,” Elder says in the film, “Electric Vehicles: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” released on Salem Now. “Scientists, media people, politicians, academics have convinced the average person that our climate is in peril and if we don’t do something real fast to get us off of fossil fuels, we’re going to be in trouble. I just, intuitively, am skeptical about that.”
He asks the hard questions, and comes away with unsettling answers—for the proponents of EVs. Ironically, only the oft-demonized fossil fuels give viewers a sense of hope for the future, and many political and ideological forces are attempting to snuff out the lights powered by the internal combustion engine.
Fossil Fuels Are the Heroes
Contrary to the popular narrative, fossil fuels haven’t made life worse for humans or the environment, experts in the film tell Elder.
Alex Epstein, an energy expert who wrote the book “The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels,” tells the radio host that climate-related disaster deaths have decreased 98% in the past century, and “a key cause of that is fossil fuels.”
“Fossil fuels haven’t taken a safe climate and made it dangerous; they’ve taken a dangerous climate and made it safe,” he explains.
Ronald Stein, an energy policy adviser for The Heartland Institute, notes that “everything that needs electricity is made with the oil derivatives manufactured from oil.” He lists off examples, including iPhones, defibrillators, coffee makers, x-ray machines, pencils, and much, much more. He challenges viewers to “try to identify something that was not made with fossil fuels,” and warns that without fossil fuels, consumers will face “shortages and inflation in perpetuity.”
Are EVs Really Clean?
Fossil fuels even form the primary power source for electric vehicles.
“They say they’re green, they say they’re emissions-free,” Diana Furchtgott-Roth, director of The Heritage Foundation’s Center for Energy, Climate, and the Environment, tells Elder. “They’re not emissions free because they’re recharged by electricity. It’s generated by oil and coal, and other kinds of power like that.”
The story gets far worse, however. Not only do EVs still require carbon emissions, but consumers tend to recycle their batteries less.
Anna Stefanopoulou, a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan, notes that while consumers recycle most materials in traditional cars, they only recycle about 5% of EV batteries.
When Elder asks her about the EV recycling industry, she responds, “What recycling industry?”
Yet the dirtiest secret about EVs involves the process of mining the raw materials.
“A brutal reality is playing out in silence along our push for EVs and other so-called renewables,” Elder notes. His film shows the brutal conditions in the Shabara artisanal mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. “At least a fifth of the Congo’s cobalt production is mined by hand under hazardous conditions that flirt with death and disease daily.”
UNICEF has estimated that around 40,000 children work in the mines of southern Congo.
Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn., tells Elder that he sponsored amendments preventing the U.S. from purchasing “one ounce of critical minerals mined by child slave labor”—amendments that Democrats opposed.
Empowering America’s Greatest Rival
University of Michigan, tells Elder that climate activist groups exhibit a kind of “cognitive dissonance.”
“We have lots of individuals and environmental groups that are opposed to mining” in the U.S., he says. “Simultaneously, those groups advocate for the clean energy transition to happen as fast as possible.”
While the U.S. could mine many critical minerals more cleanly and more humanely than other countries, environmentalists block domestic production. This empowers the Chinese Communist Party, which has acquired stakes in mining operations across the world.
Dan Kish, senior vice president of policy at the American Energy Alliance, warns Elder that the transition to EVs would prove an “enormous boon for China.”
James Jay Carafano, a Heritage Foundation analyst, raises concerns about electric vehicles undermining America’s cybersecurity.
“An electric vehicle is a computer with four wheels and some seats,” Carafano says. “Everything that your car does in the future will be subject to the same issues of privacy, hacking, exploitation, as your computers are.”
He warns that America may “essentially become a vassal state of China.” Furchtgott-Roth raises concerns about “bidirectional charging,” where the power grid can take elecriticy out of your car battery, not just charge it.
What Do We Get for All of This?
If Americans transition to EVs, rejecting the fossil fuels that have powered prosperity, abetting child slavery abroad, and empowering China, what do we get in exchange for accepting all this risk?
Not much, according to Leon Kaplan, a 40-year radio host known as “The Motorman.”
Kaplan, who has built, repaired, and raced cars all his life, tells Elder that he’s “not real fond of electric vehicles.”
“If you’re just commuting around town, they’re good for around town,” he says. “If you’re long-distance, they create anxiety.”
He notes that it takes “30 minutes to an hour” to charge a fast charger, and “you can’t store it for long.” To make matters worse, “batteries don’t like to be charged fast,” and have a tendency to overheat when they do.
A McKinsey and Company study last year found that nearly half of EV owners say they want to buy an internal combustion engine car next.
“Green” technologies are also not cost-effective.
California already faces rolling blackouts as it seeks to use more solar and wind energy, which cannot generate power on demand but must rely on climate conditions.
EV manufacturers and environmentalists like to dress up electric vehicles as the sleek, fashionable future, but Elder convincingly paints the opposite picture. Earth Day seems the perfect time to deliver this important message.
Part II - Additional Information plus other Subjects
1) Some may think that this is a left vs. right issue. But the following YouTube video demonstrates otherwise. "Michael Moore Presents: Planet of the Humans | A Film by Jeff Gibbs | Full Documentary."
2) While there are obvious differences between Larry Elder and Michael Moore or Jeff Gibbs, there are many themes that both hit with respect to EVs. Let me recommend you watch both, and read and watch what is posted in the following too.
3) Facts always are what they are.
For other subjects, check out the following installments of the "Reality Check" series for this Patch.
---
Top Florida Senate Democrat Quits: 'Dem Party in Florida Is Dead'
California’s Homeless Crisis Shows Need for Government Accountability
Bethany Blankley: 'ICE Arrests Nearly 800 in Miami Florida Operation'
---
ActBlue - Two Sides of a Looming U.S. Democrats vs. Republicans Drama
Big Tech Accused of Crime of Illegally Hiring Immigrants vs. Americans
MHARR-Housing Supply Framework Act Could Benefit New Home Production
Pope Francis dies at 88 - What is next for the global Catholic Church?
---
Get Real Evidence for Jesus Christ, Easter & the Resurrection Miracle.
Dealmaker-In-Chief: Trump Given Room for Tariffs As Negotiation Tactic
American Dream of Homeownership is Slipping Away-Association Spotlight
Congressional Lawmakers "Monopoly Busters Caucus" to Fight High Costs
---
Manufactured Home Groups Split in Transparency Amidst Housing Crisis
Blend of human expertise w/AI fact checks and commentary by Gemini, Copilot, and xAI's Grok help unpack causes-solutions to housing crisis.
Young Leaders' Faith Behrens on Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida's Future
Congress Must Now Cut Taxes and Regulations plus Trump Tariff Insights
ESG Ruling Puts New Pressure on Public Pension Funds and BlackRock
Trump Team Secures Southwest Land Border-Lowest Encounters Since 2000
---
Manufactured Housing Misses-Experts and Insiders Critique MHI Failures
Hybrid journalism blends human expertise and insights with AI backed fact checks: "Untapped Potential" "Action Over Apathy" Supplanting MHI
Real Reason Behind Left’s Freak-Out About the Department of Education?
Is There a Recession Ahead? John Carney's Fact-Packed Insight & Answer
---
Americans Mostly Support Trump On Deportation vs Activists Fighting it
Manzanita Miller unpacks new survey insight most 'Americans Side With Trump On Deportation—Not w/Activists Fighting For Illegals and Gangs.'
Lakeland Study Test Frank Rolfe Claim "Mobile Homes" Lower Prop Values
Hybrid Expert Human Study Combined with Multiple AI Powered Fact Checks plus 3rd Party Research Expose Disputed Claims in Critical Reporting
Manzanita Miller-Trump Tax Cut Helped Middle Class-Extension Welcomed
According to Manzanita Miller, the "Trump’s Tax Cuts Benefited The Middle-Class And That Is Why Extending Them Is Wildly Popular" LATK FEA--
New Manufactured Home Production Trend UP But Research Raises Concerns
Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) Released Jan 2025 data that reflects continued improvements since 2023 but...
VP Vance-Illegal Immigrants Squeeze U.S. Citizens from Home Ownership
Bill Wilson - "A Mistake From The Past That Can Be Avoided"
GROK Affordable Housing Crisis Thesis-‘This Ain’t Theory—it’s a Heist’
Fact Checks by Grok-Copilot-Gemini Point to Problems at Manufactured Housing Institute that help Explain 21st Century Manufactured Home Sales
---
Is Decline in Christianity in U.S. Over? Pew Research Suggests It Is
Numbers of Those Praying and Attending Religious Services or Mass Have Stabilized According to Recent Findings Including a Big New Pew Study
Feb 2025 sees Lowest Number of Border Crossings in Modern USA History
HUD Sec Scott Turner Tension with HUD Research v Local Zoning Barriers
GROK reports on "Most Comprehensive" article on Sec Turner's recent remarks to WMAL, CPAC, and on challenges to solve affordable housing.
Dems Fretting Over Billionaires Are on Billionaire Dole for Years
Audrey Streb-for DCNF and via Daily Signal: Democratic Officials that Criticized Wealthy Despite Taking Funding from Billionaires (Ouch!)
Rob Romano-Who Controls Foreign Policy? President Or District Courts?
'Sexual Deviants' in Federal Service to be Fired-per DNI Tulsi Gabbard
More on those and other topics in this eclectic "Reality Check" series here on this Patch.
Big Majority Approve DOGE-Plus Political Cartoons to Muse and Amuse
THE Reality Check-All of Us Have Been Manipulated & Lied to-E. Nickson
Dan Bongino to FBI - 'We’re About to See it All. It’s All Coming Out.'
Larry Elder on 'Supercharging the U.S. Economy' Using a Proven Method
---
Democrats and GOP both 'Underwater' in New Poll-But Guess Which Leads?
By the Numbers - Evidence of Discrimination Against Believers in God
Employees! It is ‘Not Free Market Capitalism It’s Corporate Feudalism’
HUD Sec Turner-'Corporate Takeover of Housing—A Manufactured Crisis'
'Trump Is Leading a Historic Counterrevolution Against the Deep State'
Federal Racket-Follow the Money-Tammany Hall 2.0 and Big U.S. Media
U.S. Manufactured Home Industry Production 2024 Total Up per MHARR
(Note MHARR is short for the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform.)
‘Endemic Mismanagement of HUD Manufactured Housing Program’ Nom Turner
'Restoring and Expanding Affordable Housing Role of Manufactured Homes'–MHARR Letter Cites 2000 Reform Act, "Enhanced Preemption" Much More
Scott Turner Confirmed Secretary of Housing and Urban Development-Official HUD+Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) News Releases; Manufactured Home Generational Wealth
> ‘Endemic Mismanagement of HUD Manufactured Housing Program’ Nom Turner
'Restoring and Expanding Affordable Housing Role of Manufactured Homes'–MHARR Letter Cites 2000 Reform Act, "Enhanced Preemption" Much More...https://patch.com/florida/lake...
> Big Govt, Big Pharma, Big Food made Americans Overweight and Unhealthy
> Virginia Bishop for ‘Well-Regulated Borders’ Amid VP J.D. Vance Rumble
> Romano-Trump Bans DEI In Federal Govt—States And Corporations Are Next
> How Republicans Should Follow Through on Tough Talk on Immigration
> NPR=87 Registered Democrats in Editorial Positions and No Republicans
> President Donald J. Trump’s Official 'America First Priorities'
---
> Rubio Senate Replacement Ashley Moody (FL-R) Gets Key Assignments
> Trump Plan: Make America Safe, Affordable, Restore U.S. Values for All
---
> Official Manufactured Housing Production from 1995-2023-Why it Matters
> Anna Paulina Luna (FL-R) and Barry Loudermilk (GA-R) MERIT Act Insight
> Executive Orders on Investigating Biden Censorship & Weaponization
> Floridian Dr István Dobozi Strikes at Trump Again in Magyar Article (Another critical analysis - fact check).
---
> Why do Liars Lie? Why do those Engaged in Paltering and Spin Palter?
> Controversy-Manufactured Housing Institute-Lesli Gooch-Mark Bowersox
> ‘Mobile Home Values Rising Faster Than Single-Family’ House-Wow Fact$
> Realtor-What Is a Manufactured Home? The Next Step Beyond Mobile Homes
> Orlando RE Agent Smith-Younger Adults Will Need $8500 Monthly for Rent
---
> Rob Romano-Time To Declassify Everything, Or Another RussiaGate Ahead
> Contemporary Tips from Legend Paul Harvey-Surprising Rest of the Story
> Alert: Is Affordable Housing Linked Scandal at Champion Homes Brewing?
> Report: Biden-Harris Federal Agencies Spent Millions Torturing Cats
> Lesli Gooch Ph.D.-Award, Coverup, Headfake, Scandal? Rest of the Story (Manufactured Housing Institute linked)
---
> ALG Unpacks Trump Pitch to Cut Drug Costs by Cutting PBM Middleman
> Is there Evidence that God Exists? Evolution vs. Intelligent Design
> Democratic Voters-Closer Look at Biden’s Acts Before Biden-Harris Exit
> Christian Leaders-Signs of 4th 'Great Awakening' Millions go to Jesus
> Attorney John Morgan - Democrat Megadonor on Kamala Harris Campaign
---
> USA Today - David Plouffe and Dem Advisers on Kamala Harris Revelation
> Majority OK Trump Transition-Mass Deportations-Tariffs- Is it Hopeful?
> Niskanen Center Praises Manufactured Home ‘Cost Savings’ and ‘Quality’
> Alice Carter-The Northern Forum-Deporting Immigrants & Housing Crisis
> Cartoons-Kamala Day 1, DOGE the Swamp, Brainwashing, & Out In the Cold
---
> The Creepy Line-Peter Schweizer-Dr. Jordan Peterson-Dr. Robert Epstein
> Secret State Miniseries - Fictional TV Series Shed Light on Reality
> Trump Transition Team Asked to Prioritize Affordable Housing Issues
> Top 10 States for Homelessness & Top Cities for Crime=Shocking Lessons
> WashPost-American Dream Fades But Assoc CEO Mark Weiss Shows Solution
---
> Blankley-Goodbye American Dream? Only 10% Polled Can Buy a House; But
> Frank Rolfe-Special Interests ‘Don’t Want to Solve Affordable Housing'
> TARK-‘I’m a Teen and Know the Solution to Affordable Housing Crisis’
---> Renting? Rent too High? Odds Are DOJ Suit vs RealPage Matters to You
> New-Certified “Half Price Homes” - Affordable Housing Solution Redux
---
> Solution: “Would-Be Homebuyers Need 80% More Income Than 4 Years Ago”
L. A. “Tony” Kovach is a publisher who has earned multiple awards in history. He and his family live in a manufactured home on private property in Winter Haven, FL. He is the co-founder of Manufactured Home Living News.com (MHLivingNews.com) and Manufactured Home Pro News.com (MHProNews.com), trade publications serving segments of the manufactured home industry. Having worked in several segments of the manufactured home industry for over 3 decades, Kovach is a widely acknowledged and often praised expert on manufactured housing. ###
Share
