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We know the batteries are a huge cost item for electric-drive vehicles, and the hardware and software for the power electronics, system cooling and other technology-related differences also conspire to make EVs more costly than their conventional internal combustion counterparts.

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Electric motors use lots of copper, and EVs use big electric motors.
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It isn't just the big, high-tech suff that costs more, as shown in a recent report from the Copper Development Assn.


The trade group happily points out that while the average car built in North America uses 50-55 pounds of copper, mostly for wiring, the typical high-end electric-drive vehicle - a battery-electric like the upcoming Nissan Leaf or an extended-range plug-in hybrid such as the Chevrolet Volt - will use 150 to 180 pounds.


At today's price of about $3.40 a pound for the bulk metal, that's a difference of $340 to $442 per car for the raw material - before the copper is processed.
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Tags: Hybrid, Plug-ins and Electric, Copper EV Parts, Copper EV Wiring, Electric Vehicle Costs

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Copper Industry Loves EVs - They'll Use 2-3 Times As Much for Wiring, Motors was originally published by Green Car Advisor. Read the full story by clicking here.