this post was submitted on 22 Jul 2023
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Are you thinking he’s joking because electricity + water = zap zap? Because I’ve got some bad news for you about what boats have been carrying around for a very long time. Some underwater boats, let’s call those subs, even carry explosives that if detonated could destroy a city of 3mil+
Edit: see Morse’s comment below for explanation, makes a lot more sense
No ! it's because $10 million yachts for billionnaires are of course not good for the environment ! It's greenwashing ! "well yeah i'm a billionnaire and i run an ecocidal megacorporation but look : my luxury superyacht is electric !" i'm baffled that people could ever think this is a good way to mitigate the climate crisis
TL;DR electric $10M yachts aren't good for the environment ; not building any yacht at all is the best answer
The best answer between an unachievable ideal and a reasonable compromise is always a reasonable compromise.
I don't think a 10 million dollar yacht, be it electric, diesel or diesel powered, is anywhere near a reasonable compromise
I find them to be excessive as well, but since we have no power over wealthy people being conspicuous consumers the idea that they shouldn’t exist is unfortunately an unattainable ideal.
On the flipside, expensive toys like these often support R&D that eventually reaches more mass market production products.
People talked a lot of smack about the original Telsa Roadster (not getting into the politics of Elon here, what a mess), but the Roadster helped fund the Model S which funded the Model X, 3, and Y and ultimately forced every other vehicle manufacturer to get in the EV game.
When faced with situations out of my control I try to find the best path to beneficial outcomes.
Well, then we're doomed, since reasonable compromises got us where we are.
Ah that makes a lot more sense and I will definitely have to agree with you
No I think the issue is that electric boats will never do as much mileage as a car to offset the carbon in their production. And also that its still doing the exact same thing that is the problem: having massive industrial production for excess. Its entirely about image and pretending to care
Well, I'm not sure I totally agree with this. Pretending to care is painting a diesel yacht green and saying it's now ... green. This is caring enough to change propulsion technologies. You might say it's excess, but that's a matter of opinion and perspective IMO. There are a lot of people who would argue with you that instead of electric cars we should just get rid of cars. Because to do otherwise is just showing off your excess. That more obviously doesn't fly because most people have way more familiarity with cars and see why they would want them compared to yachts. Where does this "we should just not produce this leisure thing" vs "we should improve the way we make and use this leisure thing to be better environmentally" end?
Well my first sentence explains that. Boats will never do enough mileage to offset the carbon in their production. Cars are utilities, we use them as tools. Most of us don't own cars for fun, they are a necessity. Superyachts are luxury toys. Why not convert existing yachts to electric? That would still be a better oprion that building new ones.
There are people who will tell you your car is a luxury toy because you won't move to Manhattan where you don't need a car to live (or a European or Asian city.) I'm just saying one persons necessity is another persons luxury. But OK, how about game consoles - those don't need to be created - do you feel a great shame for having any toy that isn't necessary?
I just think - people will commission yachts. You won't stop them. Given that - is it better to build a new fossil fuel one or an electric one? Because that's the actual choice here.
The last part I think is crucial. These people are going to spend $10 million on a yacht. By getting them to invest in maritime electrics, hopefully we can support the industry to the point that they become viable for industrial uses, and that’s where it becomes interesting. A bunch of people who will never own a boat or work in maritime telling them that it’s useless is just dumb.
Yes, because they definitely pick up the groceries and drive to work and deliver packages in their superyacht. That's why we have parking spaces for superyachts outside chicken farms, because they are excellent utilitarian vehicles for delivering chicken feed.
For at least some people there's probably also an aspect of regulatory future proofing.