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Electric cars still need power - hopefully wind and solar, but most likely also nuclear, and fossil. If one would be to calculate the pollution cost of creating

by f055 7y ago

Electric cars still need power - hopefully wind and solar, but most likely also nuclear, and fossil. If one would be to calculate the pollution cost of creating materials to build all the new power sources (wind, solar, nuclear) to support nearly 100% electric mobility, I wonder how it stands against current fossil-powered transportation.

bouncycastle 7y ago
I do agree with you, although my point is mostly from a public health angle, at least in the beginning stages of transitioning to fossil-free power generation.
JulianMorrison 7y ago
Electric cars make the problem fungible.
- bouncycastle 7y ago
  Sorry, what does it mean? I'm only familiar with the term when it comes to currencies... I think electric cars centralise the problem of air pollution, which in turn makes solving the problem from a centralized place more efficient and can be improved as technology improves. It's like when centuries ago, urban places didn't have sewers and just let the excrement flow down the open gutters on the street (we are here with combustion engines). In time, sewers were built, but the untreated sewage would flow in to rivers & oceans (similar to as if electric cars became the norm now). In time, sewage treatment plants were also built (power generation shifts to fossil fuel-free). Same way as we now look at open sewers in disgust, I'd say down the future we'll probably look at combustion engines in disgust and say "how the heck did people live like that?"
  - JulianMorrison 7y ago
    Yes, that. One source of electricity is as good as another to the car, so once cars are converted to EVs, the problem of pollution can be solved without involving them.
    - bouncycastle 7y ago
      I see. Thanks.
  - AnimalMuppet 7y ago
    "Fungible" means that one unit is replaceable by any other unit. You have a dollar? Do you really care if I swap that for a different dollar? No, you really don't. It's the same with kilowatt-hours. I don't care where it came from as long as it's 1) available and 2) within spec.

by f055 7y ago

bouncycastle 7y ago

I do agree with you, although my point is mostly from a public health angle, at least in the beginning stages of transitioning to fossil-free power generation.

JulianMorrison 7y ago

Electric cars make the problem fungible.

bouncycastle 7y ago
Sorry, what does it mean? I'm only familiar with the term when it comes to currencies... I think electric cars centralise the problem of air pollution, which in turn makes solving the problem from a centralized place more efficient and can be improved as technology improves. It's like when centuries ago, urban places didn't have sewers and just let the excrement flow down the open gutters on the street (we are here with combustion engines). In time, sewers were built, but the untreated sewage would flow in to rivers & oceans (similar to as if electric cars became the norm now). In time, sewage treatment plants were also built (power generation shifts to fossil fuel-free). Same way as we now look at open sewers in disgust, I'd say down the future we'll probably look at combustion engines in disgust and say "how the heck did people live like that?"
- JulianMorrison 7y ago
  Yes, that. One source of electricity is as good as another to the car, so once cars are converted to EVs, the problem of pollution can be solved without involving them.
  - bouncycastle 7y ago
    I see. Thanks.
- AnimalMuppet 7y ago
  "Fungible" means that one unit is replaceable by any other unit. You have a dollar? Do you really care if I swap that for a different dollar? No, you really don't. It's the same with kilowatt-hours. I don't care where it came from as long as it's 1) available and 2) within spec.