evidence: Vehicle electrification is widely perceived as an indispensable solution to climate change. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), electric vehicles (EVs), including both light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles, enabled a net reduction of 40 million tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2e) on a well-to-wheel basis in 20211. Although assessments vary across studies due to different system boundaries and underlying assumptions, EVs’ overall long-term climate benefits relative to internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) in the context of electricity generation decarbonization dominate the mainstream view2,3,4,5 (see more literature in Supplementary Table 1). For this reason, the world has experienced a rapid expansion of the EV market. In 2021, the EV stock reached 16.5 million worldwide, triple the amount in 20181. A growing number of countries and regions have announced ambitious vehicle electrification targets for the coming decades6,7,8,9. On August 5, 2021, the White House announced a target of 50% electric for all new vehicles sold in 20308. On July 14, 2021, the European Commission announced a ban on the sale of new gasoline and diesel vehicles, including hybrid vehicles, beginning in 20357.