Ramped-up demand for critical raw materials will cost the earth rather than save the world, concludes Vanessa Baird. And how much do we really need?
Something is happening with electric cars. It’s not just that there are more of them about – they’re also getting bigger and heavier.1
Sports utility vehicles (SUVs) are the top sellers. Not all are as obese as the infamous four-tonne US Hummer, but the heftier trend is evident in Chinese BYD’s Sealion 7 and Tesla’s 2025 X Plaid, each weighing in at around 2.3 tonnes.
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