Electric Vehicles Face Shipping Restrictions as Industry Struggles Deepen

Unreliable, expensive. dangerous and not wanted by most people, the electric vehicle industry is showing its true colours and it’s anything but green

The electric vehicle (EV) industry in the UK, despite its recent hype, appears to have reached its zenith and is poised for a decline, even with government incentives propping it up. The allure of EVs, often sold as a panacea for environmental woes, is fading under scrutiny, revealing a sector riddled with economic and practical challenges. Far from being the future, EVs are a detour from the robust, life-affirming potential of hydrocarbons, which have powered human progress for centuries. The narrative of a climate crisis driven by CO2, a gas essential to life and plant growth, has been overstated, diverting attention from genuine environmental concerns like habitat destruction from battery material mining. The UK’s EV trajectory, marked by sales slowdowns, unprofitability, logistical nightmares, and shifting manufacturer timelines, signals a faltering industry that cannot match the vitality of hydrocarbon-based systems.

The EV Hype Has Fizzled Out

Sales trends in the UK tell a sobering story. While battery electric vehicles (BEVs) reached a 19.6% market share of new car registrations in 2024, up from 1% in 2018, the growth has stalled. The initial surge, driven by subsidies and regulatory mandates like the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, is losing steam. The mandate, requiring 22% of new car sales to be zero-emission in 2024 and rising to 80% by 2030, has not delivered the anticipated consumer enthusiasm. High upfront costs, averaging £46,000 for an EV, deter buyers, especially as financing costs rise and resale values plummet compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. The International Energy Agency notes a global slowdown in EV demand, with the UK mirroring this trend as consumers balk at range anxiety and inadequate charging infrastructure—only 300,000 public charge points are projected by 2030, far short of what’s needed for mass adoption.

Profitability remains a persistent hurdle. Most EV models are unprofitable, costing manufacturers up to $12,000 more to produce than comparable ICE vehicles. Battery costs, though declining (down 20% globally from 2023 to 2024), remain a significant barrier, with supply chain constraints for lithium, cobalt, and nickel driving up expenses. Chinese manufacturers like BYD dominate due to lower costs, but UK and European OEMs struggle to compete, often relying on partnerships or subsidies to offset losses. McKinsey’s analysis highlights that only premium EV models occasionally break even, leaving mainstream producers in the red. This economic strain, coupled with fierce competition, is forcing consolidation, with smaller players like Fisker and Canoo missing sales targets and trading at historic lows.

Electric Vehicles Banned From Major Shipping Company

Logistical issues, such as fires on cargo ships carrying EVs, further expose the industry’s fragility. Lithium-ion battery fires, notoriously difficult to extinguish, have caused incidents like the 2023 Fremantle Highway fire off the Netherlands, where thousands of EVs were destroyed, raising safety and insurance concerns for maritime transport. These incidents underscore the risks of scaling up EV production without robust safety protocols, adding to the industry’s logistical and financial burdens.

Matson, a major U.S.-based cargo shipping company, has announced an immediate and indefinite halt to all shipments of electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) across its entire maritime network, citing rising concerns over fire hazards linked to lithium-ion batteries. This isn’t the first time a company has called it quits on electric vehicles on ships. In 2023 a Norwegian ferry operator, Havila Krystruten, also said no more EV’s on its ships, probably due to the massive fire in the Netherlands in 2023.

According to The Maritime Executive, Matson had worked to overcome the difficulties, including forming the Electric Vehicle Safe Carriage Group to resolve the issue but instead now has decided it is time to pull the plug on EV’s. No doubt this will send shockwaves to the EV industry globally and it seems to be a turning point in the global adoption of EV’s. Ironically, there are now reports coming out that because Elon Musk has deflected to the right and helped secure a Trump victory, many on the left, who also happened to be EV owners have decided they no longer like EV’s. What a comedy.

This unprecedented move follows a string of high-profile shipping fires, including the June 2025 loss of the Morning Midas, which sank after a suspected battery-related blaze aboard its vehicle deck. Matson confirmed the decision in internal customer emails, noting the risk of thermal runaway and the challenges of suppressing EV battery fires at sea. In 2024, Porsche was sued due to a massive fire on the cargo ship being traced back to one of its EV cars.

The shift happening in the USA right now is seismic and will have big impacts on the UK going forward. There are even government reports commissioned by the energy secretary of the USA being pro CO2 and hydrocarbons. We just need to ride this momentum and make the most of it whilst we can and finish the job, destroy The Climate Con and continue on from there.

Car Manufactures Are Pulling A Major EV U Turn

EV manufacturers are also backtracking on ambitious deadlines. Ford, Volvo, and others have delayed their all-electric commitments beyond 2030, citing weak demand and production challenges. The UK’s 2030 ban on new ICE car sales, now softened to allow hybrids until 2035, reflects this reality, as manufacturers leverage regulatory flexibilities to avoid penalties. This retreat signals a lack of confidence in EVs’ ability to dominate the market. Don’t be surprised if this attempted by on ICE vehicles continues to get get delayed as the rubber meets the road on the practicality of EV’s.

There Is Nothing Environmentally Friendly About EV's

And of course there is nothing ‘green’ about these vehicles and their batteries. It’s all a lie shrouded in deception, propaganda and the hijacking of language. The environmental toll of EV battery production is a critical concern. Mining for lithium, cobalt, and nickel devastates habitats, pollutes waterways, and displaces communities. In regions like Tibet and the Philippines, mining has led to toxic leaks and ecosystem degradation, causing havoc for the local population. Only 5% of batteries are recycled globally, with most ending up in landfills, exacerbating pollution. Hydrocarbons, by contrast, offer a reliable, efficient energy source that has fuelled innovation and prosperity, with modern technologies minimising environmental impact. Embracing CO2 as a vital component of life, rather than a pollutant, frees us to focus on real conservation, protecting habitats over chasing unproven EV dreams.