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The fact that the market for cars is shifting in the direction of gargantuan pieces of metal is what finally convinced me there is nothing that can be done abou
by jocaal 3y ago
The fact that the market for cars is shifting in the direction of gargantuan pieces of metal is what finally convinced me there is nothing that can be done about global warming. Forget pedestrians, if everyone is starting to drive around in cars 1.5x - 2x the weight of the average car a decade ago, we are gonna waste a lot of energy.
- 1-6 3y agoSometimes the decision to move to a bigger car is triggered by roads that have been deteriorating as a result of aging infrastructure. My decision to move up to a larger car with bigger tires is based on my experience of Bay Area roads.
- ponector 3y agoIt's funny to hear such reasoning. Why emerging markets are dealing ok with bad roads and small cars?
- 1-6 3y agoEmerging markets actually have newer roads in comparison to developed markets.
- DoingIsLearning 3y agoFlawed logic, most emerging markets have new road infrastructure only around main arteries and large city connections. Unfortunately also road construction quality is lacking because of low budgets and/or corruption leading to faster degradation, often new roads are heavily damaged after a few rain seasons.
- ponector 3y agoIn the capital cities - maybe. But outside? You can travel on street view to Egypt or Russia, there are bad roads and no off-road vehicles.
- stevenwliao 3y agoEmerging markets don't buy small cars as a conscientious environmental decision, they buy them because it fits their budget. Small cars cost less than large cars to buy and run.
- giraffe_lady 3y ago[flagged]
- 1-6 3y agoI’ve driven compact cars all my life. Uneven pavement, potholes, dried/crusted/rocky asphalt affects my car more than someone with a larger sedan.
- giraffe_lady 3y agoI believe you my surprise is more that someone would admit to making such a damaging choice for such a pathetic reason.
- dang 3y agoWould you please stop breaking the site guidelines? I don't know how many times we've had to ask you this, but it's a lot, and you're still doing it regularly. I don't want to ban you but there isn't infinite slack here. If you don't fix this, that's what we're going to have to do. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
- DoingIsLearning 3y agoYou are post-rationalising your decision and unless 'Bay Area roads' approximate Russian trunda you are very much part of the problem.
- I_Am_Nous 3y agoWhich sucks because that just makes the roads crumble faster. The extra weight of EVs is a concern since they ALSO won't pay the highway tax that's included in the price of gasoline.
- 1-6 3y agoAgree with you there. The proposed solution? All lane freeway tolls https://www.ktvu.com/news/renewed-push-for-all-lane-freeway-tolls-in-the-bay-area.amp https://www.ktvu.com/news/renewed-push-for-all-lane-freeway-... A car’s carbon footprint should also measure the wear and tear it puts on infrastructure. Plus, tire manufacturing is also petrol-rich. Last time I read, Model 3s go through tires very quickly. If that’s the case, EVs aren’t always the best solution. My humble Prius sips gas, aerodynamically cuts through wind, and is overall lightweight but a giant Lucid Air, Tesla Model X, or Rivian is considered ‘greener.’ It’s hip to look like you’re saving the world but really, it’s greenwashing.
- I_Am_Nous 3y agoI'm honestly surprised there aren't more plug-in hybrid options. It seems like the logical stepping stone for car manufacturers because they can keep most of their existing production lines intact, the cars weigh less because they have smaller battery banks so they need less rare earth metals per car compared to a full EV, it reduces emissions compared to a standard ICE vehicle. I guess the greenwashing marketing has placed EVs at the top in people's minds.
- api 3y agoYou lose the near zero maintenance advance of EVs, which is pretty huge. No more oil changes and like 10% the moving parts.
- I_Am_Nous 3y agoThat is true, but there could be a reduction of maintenance on hybrids as well, especially if the majority of stop/go driving is handled by the electric motors. Synthetic oils are sometimes rated at 10k miles before needing changed, so the ICE does still have maintenance but it's not so constant. It seems like a sensible middle ground because hybrids are also cheaper than EVs in the US so it can get more pure ICE cars off the road.
- Mawr 3y agoI have terrible news. Your new, bigger and heavier vehicle damages the roads disproportionately more than the old one: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_power_law https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_power_law
- 1-6 3y agoIf that’s the case, heavy SUVs and heavy EVs should be taxed for causing heavier damages to roads. EVs bypass the gas tax so I guess there’s that to look into.