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I saw a stat recently that an electric car removes about as much emissions as a meter of road adds. Electric cars are the most overblown response to climate ch
by bmitc 4y ago
I saw a stat recently that an electric car removes about as much emissions as a meter of road adds.
Electric cars are the most overblown response to climate change. They will help in a myopic way when comparing directly to combustion cars over several years (electric cars only start to save emissions somewhere between them being driven 6-24 months into their ownership), but I doubt it's much more than that and even possibly a net increase in emissions in terms of furthering the dominance of the car.
Elon Musk doesn't care about anything other than his ego.
- VBprogrammer 4y agoI think there are many many good reasons for electric cars. Climate change is quite far down the list though. That said, today I went into the office in central London for the first time in a while and was kind of shocked. While crossing the road to get a burrito I was consciously keeping track of the electric cars which went past. It felt like every other car. Then I got on the electric bus back to the train station and passed the drop off point for what must of been close to a hundred Lime electric bikes. There is a palpable change and I for one think it's exciting. It's just a shame Elon is such a, ahem, character.
- janef0421 4y agoElectric cars are good if you actually need a car, but we currently use cars in far more situations than really need them. Shifting away from cars where they aren't needed will be far more effective than replacing gas cars with electric.
- erehweb 4y agoThe most climate-friendly car is a bike. (As I feel someone said, but I can't find a reference)
- VBprogrammer 4y agoI don't see why those are mutually exclusive. Replacing ICE cars with electric and using other forms of transportation when it is appropriate both are important. I actually think the rise in electric personal transportation (bikes, scooters and weird balancing contraptions etc) could be a bigger game changer than electric cars especially within cities.
- janef0421 4y agoThey aren't, but our focus should be on mode shift, since it is a more efficient use of resources.