The Preface
Welcome to The Electric Truth: Essential and Practical Insights for an EV Future.
This blog series is the culmination of years behind the wheel, thousands of hours of research, and countless conversations with fellow drivers, engineers, policymakers, skeptics, and enthusiasts. I have been sometimes harshly criticized in the comments section of my social media presence. I have been called an “idiot” and have been told that I “drank the Kool-Aid” by friend and foe alike. I have watched talking heads and policymakers speak about the evils of EVs and how they are a joke.
Even my Congressman (Cory Mills, Florida) inferred they are a “scam.” [3] It is sad that people don’t take the time to find the facts and learn the truth before they put their mouth in gear (or fingers on keyboards) and drive out into the information highway with bias, nonfactual information, or critiques intended to elicit emotional responses from those who do not share their views. You know, “coal rolling” the information highway with misinformation, but no real substance.
When I bought my first EV — a used 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV — I didn’t set out to become an advocate or expert. I just wanted a car that worked, saved me money, and didn’t pollute. But along the way, I discovered that nearly everything I had been told about EVs was wrong — or at the very least, incomplete. The time it takes to manufacture an EV is the same as an ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) car. [1] The battery used to take longer to manufacture, but today that is no longer the case. Not only is price parity becoming a real thing, so is manufacturing parity.
This book is my attempt to bring facts and knowledge to a subject that is often entangled in emotion and fraught with half-truths and tons of deliberate misinformation. It blends personal stories, factual analysis, environmental science, energy economics, and “good old-fashioned” myth-busting. It is not just for car nerds or climate warriors — it is for anyone who’s curious, frustrated by misinformation, or simply wants to understand the truth about where transportation is heading in our world.
This isn’t just about cars — it’s about reshaping industries, protecting public health, and confronting the realities of human-induced climate change. We are in a great transition period — much like the transition from horse and buggy to the automobile or the landline telephone to cellular communication. Like the dawn of the steam engine or the rise of the internet, EVs represent a seismic shift in how we live, move, and interact with the world. It is an exciting time in which we live, wouldn’t you say?
In these pages, you’ll find:
· A clear-eyed look at gasoline’s hidden costs and inefficiencies [4]
· Honest comparisons of EV and gas car performance, emissions, and costs
· A breakdown of rare earth and battery materials
· Real-world experience from someone who’s driven over 180,000 electric miles [2 (at the time of the recording)]
· Concrete answers to the top objections people raise against EVs
· A roadmap for what’s happening now, what’s coming soon, and why it matters
This isn’t a technical series of posts. It is a practical, fact-based guide designed to inform and empower you — whether you’re a current EV owner, a prospective buyer, or someone standing on the sidelines trying to figure out what all the fuss is about. While this blog series focuses on North America, EV transformations are unfolding worldwide — from Europe to Asia to South America to Australia and yes, even China — reshaping global markets and driving innovation across borders. [5]
So, buckle up. We’re going to cut through the noise, look at the facts, and chart a path forward. I’ll take you from Point A to Point B...and along the way we are going to examine all aspects of EVs and EV ownership. For me, this journey hasn’t just been about driving — it’s been about discovering a new way of seeing our collective future. I’m glad you’re here. So, let’s go uncover The Electric Truth together — climb in, let’s go!
James (Jim) Brock
Retired USAF Meteorologist (Scientist)
EV Owner (Enthusiast)
Social Media Influencer
Footnotes:
[1] International Energy Agency (IEA), Global EV Outlook report — includes manufacturing and supply chain comparisons. https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2024
[2] 140,000 electric miles driven, Jim’s EV Adventures YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@JimsEVAdventures
[3] Cory Mills infers that EVs are a Scam, https://burlison.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-burlison-hageman-reintroduce-unplug-evs-act-end-wasteful-spending and E-Mail Newsletter dated, 2/19/2025
