Totaled Teslas In The US Are Being Brought Back To Life In Ukraine

Ivan Malakhovsky owns a repair shop in Dnipro, Ukraine, that services and fixes electric vehicles of all kinds. Even though he currently serves with the armed forces, he says the work must continue as his employees continue servicing vehicles in his absence.

“We have problems in our lives and can fix them, whether a battery or a full-scale invasion,” says Malakhovsky. “Electric cars, electric car batteries-it’s no problem.” He says that when a vehicle is too far gone, they’ll even strip it down for parts, repurposing the batteries in electric scooters, bikes, and even drones for the war effort.

With 11,000 chargers in a country smaller than the size of Texas and with the added benefit of cheap electricity, electric vehicles have become a popular option with the working class, especially since the war has jacked up the price of gasoline.

For some, going through the effort of importing and repairing a damaged electric vehicle makes sense due to the costs saved down the line. But it begs the question: if this country can make it work, why can’t ours?