As the West surges toward electric cars, here’s where the unwanted gas guzzlers go

Channel 3000 News/CNN ^ | May 21, 2023 | CNN Staff

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Standing on the stony ground in the bustling Fifa Park car lot, Rokeeb Yaya is haggling over the price of a dark red car. It is one of a couple hundred vehicles, parked in long lines stretching out across the vast lot – some shiny and new-looking, others dented and dusty.

The car Yaya has his eye on, a 2008 US-built Ford Escape, is on sale for around $4,000. It’s relatively affordable – US cars are cheaper than most other brands in the lot – and he wants to upgrade from his motorbike to a car. He is not interested in the history of the vehicle, he said, only that he can afford it.

But how this Ford ended up here – in one of the biggest car lots in the port city of Cotonou – helps tell a bigger story about how many of the West’s gas-guzzling cars are starting second lives in West Africa.

Car records reviewed by CNN show it had three previous owners in Virginia and Maryland, and has logged over 252,000 miles on the road. It had one previous recall for its power steering, but unlike some of the other cars on the lot, it arrived in a relatively sound condition – it hadn’t been in any reported accidents.

This aging SUV is just one of millions of used cars that arrive every year in West Africa from wealthy countries such as Japan, South Korea, European countries and, increasingly, the US. Many of these end up in Benin, one of Africa’s top importers of used vehicles.

The stream of used cars heading to West African ports is only expected to increase with the West’s shift to electric vehicles.

[adorno]

There is no surge for EVs.

So, if the premise is faulty, what follows makes no sense.

[rktman]

Unwanted gas guzzlers? I don’t see it.

[Jim W N]

here’s where the unwanted gas guzzlers go

To me.

You can take those miserable electric cars and shove 'em.

[Rurudyne]

Never buying an electric car.

I’m open to producer gas though.

[refermech]

Agree, still enjoy driving my 71 Duster around just to annoy the tree huggers.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Where do the worn out incendiary lithium batteries from coal-fired EVs go?

[Ex-Con777]

You can buy enough gas to drive your “gas guzzler” Dodge Ram half a million miles just off the purchase price of a $70K EV.

EC

[Jim Noble]

Where is the power going to come from?

And, where is the cadmium going to come from?

[Obadiah]

Absolutely correct. But if they artificially construct the illusion that there is a stampede to EVs perhaps they can manufacture a stampede. You know, kind of like what they try to do with push polling.

[ridesthemiles]

How many of those cars are from “Cash for Clunkers” program???

[CFW]

Narrator: U.S. consumers are not actually “surging” to EVs.

Here in the south, used gas-powered vehicles are in big demand. A few years ago, I paid $6,000 for ten year-old GMC Envoy. To purchase a similar one that age now would probably cost $10,000 to $12,000 if in excellent condition. (I also financed it through my credit union at 1.67% interest—I suspect I wouldn’t be able to get that deal right now. LOL!)

[Grampa Dave]

“Many of these end up in Benin, one of Africa’s top importers of used vehicles.”

Apparently, some of my Black African DNA came from Benin.

One of the ancestors was a “Free Black” and so were her off spring.

They were traders, then and now.

[9YearLurker]

You may not live in a blue state.

[Vaduz]

Electric cars another mood ring disco era has arrived make a buck off anything pimps jump on the band wagon.

[Charles Martel]

Unwanted gas guzzlers? I don’t see it.

The fuel type and consumption isn't really the issue here - it's the 200,000+ miles on the odometer. Used cars with very high mileage often end up being exported. The writer simply used that fact to serve as "proof" of a growing EV market.

[McGruff]

Come on down to Achmed's Used Cars. They're cheaper than a new battery for your EV.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Ford Fiestas to Cuba in exchange for their 40’s classics. Maintained with Russian parts.

Hot August Nights. A great place to put them on parade.

[PIF]

There is more than a 90% chance that most of those Western cars are stolen.

[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

We've a Dodge 2500 with a Cummins diesel, which has much more than 200+ K and is going strong. No way we're giving it up. My mechanic says we should drive until the chassis rusts away. Meanwhile a neighbor's EV has broken down and needs a new entire battery. Ouch.