Opinion | China’s Electric Vehicles Are Going to Hit Detroit Like a Wrecking Ball
www.nytimes.com
Do we really want America to become a backwater of bloated, expensive, gas-guzzling cars?

This upcoming competition means that it’s incredibly important for US makers to figure out how to profitably make inexpensive electric vehicles, instead of merely focusing on the biggest most expensive trucks and SUVs

  • NocturnalMorning@lemmy.world
    0·
    9 months ago

    Electric vehicles are a means to reduce climate harm, nothing more. Anybody who thinks this is about making money doesn’t get it. Ehats crazy is that we have a collapsing ecosystem, and climate, and we’re all still collectively shrugging about it and worrying about money.

    When large parts of India and the equator are no longer livable, we aren’t gonna be worrying about how expensive electric cars are anymore.

    This is a distraction…

    • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works
      0·
      9 months ago

      I disagree. If we were serious about climate change, we’d be rolling out mass transit improvements to reduce the number of cars on the road instead of doubling down on personal vehicles. EVs just move the pollution to battery manufacturing and electricity generation. It’s a way for people to pat themselves on the back without actually changing behavior.

      I’m not saying EVs are bad, they’re probably better on net than gas cars, but they’re not the transformative change we need. My recommendation:

      • more hybrids, less EVs - requires minimal infrastructure changes
      • invest heavily in high speed rail - goal should be increasing percentage of population that doesn’t need a car
      • break up roads that go through cities, pushing cars to the outside - makes car travel less convenient and mass transit more attractive
      • invest heavily in pedestrian and cycling infrastructure - promote ebikes

      But no, we’re investing a ton in EV infrastructure because that sustains the current model.

      • NocturnalMorning@lemmy.world
        0·
        9 months ago

        A lot of your recommendations are very misinformed. Hybrids are not good for the environment. The fuel in a hybrid evaporates a lot more than a traditional ICE, it’s not the stopgap people think it is.

        My EV runs on primarily renewable energy bcz my house runs on renewable energy sources. Batteries are dirty to mine, yes, but the carbon footprint is way say lower than a traditional ICE. There’s no debate there.

        I agree, high speed rail, and cultural changes to how we drive are necessary. But I can’t make cities do that, hence I buy an EV and ride my bike when I can.

    • HomebrewHedonist@lemmy.ca
      0·
      9 months ago

      Human beings are genetically wired to avoid problems until the last possible moment when they have to mobilize. The situation will have to get much worse before people actually take climate change seriously. It’s unfortunate, but that’s what we are.

      • NocturnalMorning@lemmy.world
        0·
        9 months ago

        Be my guest to start the trend of getting hundreds to hundreds of thousands of people living in walkable and bikeable areas. Right now, at least in the U.S., that’s not how the country is set up right now.