WHAT THE EV. Part 4. WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT EV Supply Chain Claims Verification Report

This comprehensive investigation examined eight specific claims about EV supply chains, energy grid vulnerabilities, and lithium geopolitics through systematic fact-checking across multiple authoritative sources. The research reveals a mixed landscape where some dramatic events are fully documented while others appear to be unsubstantiated or mischaracterized.

The April 2025 European blackout was catastrophically real

Claim Status: FULLY VERIFIED - All specific details confirmed through multiple primary sources.

The Spain/Portugal/Southern France blackout on April 28, 2025, represents one of the most severe power grid failures in European history. Every claimed detail has been verified: the 15-gigawatt power drop occurred exactly as stated, 35,000 train passengers were indeed stranded, and over 500 flights were cancelled [1,2]. Red Eléctrica's official investigation report, published June 18, 2025, confirmed the root cause as a fault at a photovoltaic plant in Badajoz that triggered uncontrolled frequency oscillations, leading to complete system collapse within minutes [3].

The scale exceeded typical grid failures - Spain lost 60% of its national electricity demand in five seconds, with restoration taking over 10 hours. Eight fatalities resulted from carbon monoxide poisoning and medical equipment failures, while economic damages reached €1.6-4.5 billion [4]. The European grid coordination body ENTSO-E established a joint Expert Panel to investigate, confirming this as an unprecedented cascade failure in an increasingly solar-dependent grid [5].

Bolivia's lithium narrative inverted from reality, Evidence shows the opposite of claimed export ban.

This investigation traces power structures from Chinese factories to Congolese mines, from shipping fires to state surveillance systems. Subscribe for full access to research that mainstream coverage won't touch.