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Oh wow, thats quite a bit more remote than I imagined and goes far beyond the typical urban/rural spectrum, there's probably nothing that extreme in the EU. Sin

by danhor 5y ago

Oh wow, thats quite a bit more remote than I imagined and goes far beyond the typical urban/rural spectrum, there's probably nothing that extreme in the EU. Since this is a very niche issue, I fear that will be a hard problem to solve. EVs will kill regular gasoline vehicles and AFAICT hydrogen cars won't work out at all (the latter regardless of any co2 related regulations, mostly due to low efficiency and high, not easily optimizable, costs) over the medium term. That area of concern will probably simply get "googled" (ignored since too niche) by the car manufacturers, so I'm not quite sure what will happen, but I can imagine a couple outcomes: 1. Tough luck, simply not workable with equipment affordable by "regular people". The "these people disappear [to somewhere else]" solution, locally unpopular but probably not significant enough to get a lot of attention from the federal government 2. Retaining old gasoline vehicles, with high taxes due to carbon emissions and high costs, due to gas stations and repair expertise disappearing. Would probably work for a couple decades, since I imagine that gasoline will still get produced for quite some time for niche legacy stuff with the issue being "how do you get it?", but very expensive and not sustainable due to vehicles dying 3. Recharge stations in the middle of nowhere: probably not in sufficient quantities, niche interest & very expensive with lots of them needed due to the large distances & high power demand when in use. Maybe something PV & battery based if traffic is low enough? Would still mean that they need a satellite connection and you'd probably need to "reserve" the charge beforehand, so no one gets stranded at one. Also probably not easy with very low temperatures. 4. Something conceptually to a modern power bank but hydrogen powered? Maybe a roof rack with some hydrogen & electrically connected to the charging socket. Would probably be cheaper than a special car & more feasible in lower quantities. I feel like retaining production for this is not gonna work out and there won't be a single solution, but a combination of them. In the worst case, it might be a combination of 1. & 2., with batteries having improved enough to retain a charge > 1000km while heating when 2. comes to an end.

freedomben 5y ago
Very interesting analysis, thanks! I fully agree with your hypotheses about the future. I think that's the most likely outcome as well, barring some technological upset that changes the game somehow (unlikely, but possible). The hydrogen on the roof-top to charge a battery or power a motor is a fascinating idea. As you say, it won't be cheap but it does seem feasible/possible in a world where gas is rare and expensive. I do think many people will do what I did and move to a less rural area. There are a lot of native tribes up there who have been there as long as they've had history. It will no doubt be heart wrenching, but they'll have to move. A hundred years later perhaps our ancestors will be looking back at our time and apologizing for the cruelty of forcing them away from their ancestral homes, but it won't change anything now.

by danhor 5y ago

freedomben 5y ago

Very interesting analysis, thanks! I fully agree with your hypotheses about the future. I think that's the most likely outcome as well, barring some technological upset that changes the game somehow (unlikely, but possible). The hydrogen on the roof-top to charge a battery or power a motor is a fascinating idea. As you say, it won't be cheap but it does seem feasible/possible in a world where gas is rare and expensive. I do think many people will do what I did and move to a less rural area. There are a lot of native tribes up there who have been there as long as they've had history. It will no doubt be heart wrenching, but they'll have to move. A hundred years later perhaps our ancestors will be looking back at our time and apologizing for the cruelty of forcing them away from their ancestral homes, but it won't change anything now.