3 ms·

American cars are a teeny tiny part of world CO2 emissions. Whatever else their pros and cons, hybrids and Teslas aren't going to matter to global warming.

deelowe 14y ago
Of course they aren't the solution, but technological progress typically happens in low volume, niche markets. My point wasn't that a solution is here today. Quite the opposite, but it's disingenuous to claim that people aren't working on the problem or that progress isn't being made. It's also a bit dubious to claim that simply making oil more expensive would solve things. There's a balance. At one end of the spectrum you destroy humanity via global warming at the other, you do so via war. The government has to play both options to strike a balance.
dmritard96 14y ago
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_carbon_dioxide_emissions http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_carbon_dio... 18.27% of global c02 http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/Downloads/ghgemissions/US-GHG-Inventory-2012-ES.pdf http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/Downloads/ghgemissions/US-G... "Transportation activities (excluding international bunker fuels) accounted for 32 percent of CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion in 2010." almost 6% of global C02 emmisions. I think thats substantial, but you are correct that hybrids and teslas aren't going to do much. However if we help push electric vehicles and clean power production there is obviously a substantial benefit to be reaped.
- jdminhbg 14y ago
  You need one more step -- cars as a % of American transportation activities.
  - dmritard96 14y ago
    I agree. http://climate.dot.gov/about/transportations-role/overview.html http://climate.dot.gov/about/transportations-role/overview.h... looks like maybe 82% if you include trucks with cars
    - jdminhbg 14y ago
      Good breakdown. As far as things that can be replaced by Priuses and Teslas (original point upthread), I think you're looking at just the 34% from passenger cars. So you end up with taking a bite out of (not zeroing) 2% of global emissions.
      - dmritard96 14y ago
        well - I would still say that is a bit optimistic. For instance what portion of consumers can afford a prius or tesla type vehicle? I do think it is fair to point out that as there is more industry adoption (starting with teslas and priuses) the tech should become cheaper and better, affected other markets in other places. So directly, they aren't going to do much, but in the long term, adoption of teslas and priuses could have a substantial impact.

deelowe 14y ago

Of course they aren't the solution, but technological progress typically happens in low volume, niche markets. My point wasn't that a solution is here today. Quite the opposite, but it's disingenuous to claim that people aren't working on the problem or that progress isn't being made. It's also a bit dubious to claim that simply making oil more expensive would solve things. There's a balance. At one end of the spectrum you destroy humanity via global warming at the other, you do so via war. The government has to play both options to strike a balance.

dmritard96 14y ago

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_carbon_dioxide_emissions http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_carbon_dio... 18.27% of global c02 http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/Downloads/ghgemissions/US-GHG-Inventory-2012-ES.pdf http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/Downloads/ghgemissions/US-G... "Transportation activities (excluding international bunker fuels) accounted for 32 percent of CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion in 2010." almost 6% of global C02 emmisions. I think thats substantial, but you are correct that hybrids and teslas aren't going to do much. However if we help push electric vehicles and clean power production there is obviously a substantial benefit to be reaped.

jdminhbg 14y ago
You need one more step -- cars as a % of American transportation activities.
- dmritard96 14y ago
  I agree. http://climate.dot.gov/about/transportations-role/overview.html http://climate.dot.gov/about/transportations-role/overview.h... looks like maybe 82% if you include trucks with cars
  - jdminhbg 14y ago
    Good breakdown. As far as things that can be replaced by Priuses and Teslas (original point upthread), I think you're looking at just the 34% from passenger cars. So you end up with taking a bite out of (not zeroing) 2% of global emissions.
    - dmritard96 14y ago
      well - I would still say that is a bit optimistic. For instance what portion of consumers can afford a prius or tesla type vehicle? I do think it is fair to point out that as there is more industry adoption (starting with teslas and priuses) the tech should become cheaper and better, affected other markets in other places. So directly, they aren't going to do much, but in the long term, adoption of teslas and priuses could have a substantial impact.