Got an electric car

[buster poser]

View attachment 1096355

If that was for my looooong post.

I have a 70s hotrod whose flat six gets about the same mileage as my V8 pickup, and I was in the internet-expert "electric cars are just as bad but in other ways" camp for a long time. I could also bicycle to work, but won't, so I've got no virtue to proclaim here just anecdotal experience.

The data is just interesting to me because I hear a lot of people say "your car runs on coal" (partly true!) as though that means it costs as much, and emits as much/more CO2 than an ICE car (objectively untrue). The car makes economic sense but still is a net CO2 emitter, even if that's at a dramatically reduced rate.

 

[billy logan]

referring to the image in post #291 on p.15 (one page back)

That would reduce evaporation as well I assume.

Great minds think alike!

Floatovoltaics
solar-panels-floating-in-reservoirs-well-drink-to-that <--- link to wired.com

why-covering-canals-with-solar-panels-is-a-power-move <--- older article at wired.com

 

[memorex]

I have nothing against electric cars, but I don't need a car. My 2017 Hyundai Tucson is paid for, and it has less than 10K miles on it. I drive about 1,500 miles/year, so at that rate, it'll be about 40 years before I need to trade it in. I'll be around 113 then, we'll see.

 

[Blrfl]

The data is just interesting to me because I hear a lot of people say "your car runs on coal" ...

The crowd trotting that argument out ignores two things:

One is that there's more than one way to make electricity, which is something you can't say about any other fuel currently used for transportation. The switch to electricity will be disruptive for sure, but it only has to happen once. The appliances in my house don't know or care if the electrons they get were made with coal, solar or TDPRI John running on a treadmill; electric cars won't, either.

The other is that the mix of ways we make it has changed over the last hundred years and there's no reason to think it's not going to continue to change over the next hundred. If people believe the way we make it today is how it's going to be made forever, they need to stand up and admit that the <Insert Nationality Here> people are unable to solve problems.

 

[getbent]

If that was for my looooong post.

I have a 70s hotrod whose flat six gets about the same mileage as my V8 pickup, and I was in the internet-expert "electric cars are just as bad but in other ways" camp for a long time. I could also bicycle to work, but won't, so I've got no virtue to proclaim here just anecdotal experience.

The data is just interesting to me because I hear a lot of people say "your car runs on coal" (partly true!) as though that means it costs as much, and emits as much/more CO2 than an ICE car (objectively untrue). The car makes economic sense but still is a net CO2 emitter, even if that's at a dramatically reduced rate.

I posted it only because I thought it was funny... defnitely not aimed at you... aimed at anyone who thinks they are right or 'doing the right thing'

To quote Bob Frost---> 'one luminary clock against the sky proclaimed the times were neither wrong nor right'

We do what we do and with a little luck, we live with it and make our peace.

So much of what I witness is people who are on a long jog muttering under their breath 'I'm winning, I'm winning' and while it is kind of annoying, it is kind of idiotic too.

 

[imwjl]

If that was for my looooong post.

I have a 70s hotrod whose flat six gets about the same mileage as my V8 pickup, and I was in the internet-expert "electric cars are just as bad but in other ways" camp for a long time. I could also bicycle to work, but won't, so I've got no virtue to proclaim here just anecdotal experience.

The data is just interesting to me because I hear a lot of people say "your car runs on coal" (partly true!) as though that means it costs as much, and emits as much/more CO2 than an ICE car (objectively untrue). The car makes economic sense but still is a net CO2 emitter, even if that's at a dramatically reduced rate.

I'll smile if @getbent gives me the virtual signal graphic, but there are places with sizable populations where you don't or can choose to not run the EVs on coal.

Where I work first hopping onto one utility's renewable program came from the marketing departments of the utility and ours so yeah on virtual signaling. In time it became sagacious business management and living. Some of our food suppliers are also power generators. Our religious and conservative owners also have those viewpoints in what I see as a very independence and freedom mindset. There's also a very much support local or home mindset in it which may or may not be virtual signaling. The Fords, Teslas, and Rivian are very American to them.

There is a new Chevrolet pickup from waiting on Rivian and some staff who think the Teslas and Rivian are foreign don't get the it's Mexican jokes.

 

[buster poser]

I posted it only because I thought it was funny... defnitely not aimed at you... aimed at anyone who thinks they are right or 'doing the right thing'

To quote Bob Frost---> 'one luminary clock against the sky proclaimed the times were neither wrong nor right'

We do what we do and with a little luck, we live with it and make our peace.

So much of what I witness is people who are on a long jog muttering under their breath 'I'm winning, I'm winning' and while it is kind of annoying, it is kind of idiotic too.

Right on, didn’t think so but wasn’t sure I didn’t come off wrong there. We are sympatico here; I just can’t get bunged up about The Way It (or They) Ought to Be or that kind of stuff, forget thinking I know the way.

I saw a sticker on an old track car a few years ago, said “this car undoes in one lap what your Prius achieves in five years.” Kind of gleefully jerky, but it reminds me that a single private jet trip for some celeb is probably at least a year’s worth of all my cars combined in terms of environmental impact. But then I fly too, so… hard to get sanctimonious.

 

[teletail]

The data is just interesting to me because I hear a lot of people say "your car runs on coal" (partly true!) as though that means it costs as much, and emits as much/more CO2 than an ICE car (objectively untrue). The car makes economic sense but still is a net CO2 emitter, even if that's at a dramatically reduced rate.

Since only 60% of the electricity in the US is generated from fossil fuel, and not ALL of that is coal, it's less than 60% true. I'm not sure why the subject of electric cars gets so many people's panties in a knot on this forum. If you don't want one, don't buy one; it's really just that simple. I just get tired of people making excrement up in a weak attempt to justify their opinion.

 

[buster poser]

I'll smile if @getbent gives me the virtual signal graphic, but there are places with sizable populations where you don't or can choose to not run the EVs on coal.

Yeah coal’s a significantly surprising piece of the puzzle here, but still dwarfed by natural gas. Of course that also a terrible environmental impact(s) and our very poor state relies on its production hugely just in terms of tax revenue.

 

[bholder]

I'm all electric, including the car, and my electric is 0% fossil fuels (yeah, gotta pay a bit extra, it's worth it to me).

Anyone else?

 

[staxman]

I bought a Sonicare Electric toothbrush. It’s very efficient, but the the carbon footprint is worse than my old manual toothbrush. Both are made of oil based plastics. I think. Trying to be responsible about these things is stressing me out. I’m gonna take an UberXL out to SeaTac and catch a plane for a much needed vacay. I did reserve a compact car at my destination, but sadly it is not electric.

 

[getbent]

I heard on the news that they are going to ban gas furnaces and gas hot water heaters in the next couple of years. I'm shifting gears... when I was a kid, the ads on tv were all about clean, clear gas and how it was the 'right choice'... so, I'm unlearning that... I just had my furnace repaired a few months ago... I guess I'm gonna start saving for new stuff and go ahead and do solar and a big battery too...

or take an hvac class and buy a NOS furnace for parts for mine!

 

[chris m.]

If that was for my looooong post.

I have a 70s hotrod whose flat six gets about the same mileage as my V8 pickup, and I was in the internet-expert "electric cars are just as bad but in other ways" camp for a long time. I could also bicycle to work, but won't, so I've got no virtue to proclaim here just anecdotal experience.

The data is just interesting to me because I hear a lot of people say "your car runs on coal" (partly true!) as though that means it costs as much, and emits as much/more CO2 than an ICE car (objectively untrue). The car makes economic sense but still is a net CO2 emitter, even if that's at a dramatically reduced rate.

No question that electric vehicles are economical in the long run due to the lower cost of energy to go from A to B, and lower maintenance costs. That should be enough in and of itself to entice many to switch. The better acceleration and reduced carbon overall emissions would just be icing on the cake for many converts.

 

[BigDaddyLH]

I bought a Sonicare Electric toothbrush. It’s very efficient, but the the carbon footprint is worse than my old manual toothbrush. Both are made of oil based plastics. I think.

I'm way ahead of you!

 

[imwjl]

My second Keweenaw Peninsula trip in a few weeks surprised me by not just from seeing EVs in remote places, but a business at the tip of the peninsula having the new new F150 lightening. The more I thought about it, the more it makes sense. The map link might help explain the context and remote nature.

Business people I know there confirmed the trend and interest because liquid fuel is really expensive and ICEs don't like to run in extreme cold. Beyond expense, driving to a less expensive gas station can take 90 minutes round trip.

If they see a problem, that is the huge waits to get the Ford, GM and Rivian pickups. In other posts I've said my boss has had to lease a gasoline pickup while he waits for electric ones.

The Fords I've seen there have had MI plates. Tesla, VW and Audi at hotels and ski areas have been out of state plates but that still tells me you can take a vacation with an EV. My guess is most of them are two car families.

47°25'18.0"N 88°05'06.0"W

goo.gl