3 ms·

This is something people who oppose EVs seem to forget (or ignore). Especially in cities, the air would be so much cleaner if only EVs were allowed. Every time

This is something people who oppose EVs seem to forget (or ignore). Especially in cities, the air would be so much cleaner if only EVs were allowed. Every time someone lectures me on the CO2 cost of producing electric cars I explain this, but nobody seems to care about cleaner air.

Glench 5y ago
Sounds frustrating! I totally agree — I used to bike around the city and the pollution was pretty noticeable — smelled terrible in congested areas and seemed to make it harder to breathe. I really value the nourishment of clean air and I'm sure many many more people will too as we wean ourselves from fossil fuels. I'm also wondering if you're familiar with or would like this book by a climate scientist living in Texas who's documented what's worked for her in talking about climate change with people who are resistant: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Saving-Us/Katharine-Hayhoe/9781982143831 https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Saving-Us/Katharine-H...
belorn 5y ago
People tend to ignore or simply not care when the death is spread out. It is why Fukushima scare people more than coal power plants, or why an airplane crash get more focus than the constant car crashes on the motorway. Risk perception is a topic that should be taught in schools.
wiz21c 5y ago
If you remove vehicles EV or not, you win on all sides. I guess those who are against EV think about. As someone who suffers from air pollution, I'd welcome EV happily, but knowing that it's just a part of the (very) long term solution. I remember that Trump was not much in fighting about climate change but much more into fighting against air pollution. On that account he was not completely wrong. Air pollution kills many people as others said.
- tuxman 5y ago
  Trump being into fighting air pollution is a new take I have not heard before. Policy-wise, his administration was vehemently anti-regulation[0] and rolled back many air quality regulations protecting us from toxic substances like coal ash[1], which contains heavy metals like mercury and arsenic. The most egregious example in my opinion was the attempt to end California's legal authority to set its own, more stringent, emissions standards[2]. The edict was even opposed by a majority of automakers. Luckily many of these rulings have been rolled-back or are in the process of being reversed. Air pollution even from tires and brakes, let alone from gasoline, is a large health problem and should be discussed more. [0] - https://www.brookings.edu/policy2020/votervital/what-is-the-trump-administrations-track-record-on-the-environment/ https://www.brookings.edu/policy2020/votervital/what-is-the-... [1] - https://eelp.law.harvard.edu/2017/12/coal-ash-rule/ https://eelp.law.harvard.edu/2017/12/coal-ash-rule/ [2] - https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/26/22404403/california-tailpipe-standards-epa-transportation-department https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/26/22404403/california-tailp...
- thinkcontext 5y ago
  > I remember that Trump was not much in fighting about climate change but much more into fighting against air pollution You are going to have to source that. Trump championed coal, eviscerated the EPA, rolled back air quality regulations, etc.
jandrese 5y ago
EVs are cleaner in more ways than just the exhaust too. They produce much less noise pollution for one. Another advantage is that because EVs can use regenerative breaking they wear through much less brake pad material each year, and brake dust is a huge issue in city air quality, especially since brakes are still manufactured using asbestos.

Glench 5y ago

Sounds frustrating! I totally agree — I used to bike around the city and the pollution was pretty noticeable — smelled terrible in congested areas and seemed to make it harder to breathe. I really value the nourishment of clean air and I'm sure many many more people will too as we wean ourselves from fossil fuels. I'm also wondering if you're familiar with or would like this book by a climate scientist living in Texas who's documented what's worked for her in talking about climate change with people who are resistant: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Saving-Us/Katharine-Hayhoe/9781982143831 https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Saving-Us/Katharine-H...

belorn 5y ago

People tend to ignore or simply not care when the death is spread out. It is why Fukushima scare people more than coal power plants, or why an airplane crash get more focus than the constant car crashes on the motorway. Risk perception is a topic that should be taught in schools.

wiz21c 5y ago

If you remove vehicles EV or not, you win on all sides. I guess those who are against EV think about. As someone who suffers from air pollution, I'd welcome EV happily, but knowing that it's just a part of the (very) long term solution. I remember that Trump was not much in fighting about climate change but much more into fighting against air pollution. On that account he was not completely wrong. Air pollution kills many people as others said.

tuxman 5y ago
Trump being into fighting air pollution is a new take I have not heard before. Policy-wise, his administration was vehemently anti-regulation[0] and rolled back many air quality regulations protecting us from toxic substances like coal ash[1], which contains heavy metals like mercury and arsenic. The most egregious example in my opinion was the attempt to end California's legal authority to set its own, more stringent, emissions standards[2]. The edict was even opposed by a majority of automakers. Luckily many of these rulings have been rolled-back or are in the process of being reversed. Air pollution even from tires and brakes, let alone from gasoline, is a large health problem and should be discussed more. [0] - https://www.brookings.edu/policy2020/votervital/what-is-the-trump-administrations-track-record-on-the-environment/ https://www.brookings.edu/policy2020/votervital/what-is-the-... [1] - https://eelp.law.harvard.edu/2017/12/coal-ash-rule/ https://eelp.law.harvard.edu/2017/12/coal-ash-rule/ [2] - https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/26/22404403/california-tailpipe-standards-epa-transportation-department https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/26/22404403/california-tailp...
thinkcontext 5y ago
> I remember that Trump was not much in fighting about climate change but much more into fighting against air pollution You are going to have to source that. Trump championed coal, eviscerated the EPA, rolled back air quality regulations, etc.

jandrese 5y ago

EVs are cleaner in more ways than just the exhaust too. They produce much less noise pollution for one. Another advantage is that because EVs can use regenerative breaking they wear through much less brake pad material each year, and brake dust is a huge issue in city air quality, especially since brakes are still manufactured using asbestos.