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Do EV's actually do anything beneficial for the planet? (lemmy.today)

submitted 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I've seen a lot of posts here on Lemmy, specifically in the "fuck cars" communities as to how Electric Vehicles do pretty much nothing for the Climate, but I continue to see Climate activists everywhere try pushing so, so hard for Electric Vehicles.

Are they actually beneficial to the planet other than limiting exhaust, or is that it? or maybe exhaust is a way bigger problem?

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (2 children)

There are studies after what kind of mileage an EV outperforms a regular car.

But the question is: Where do you get your electricity from? Is it regenerative energy?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

A commercial scale coal power plant has a much cleaner output per kWh than your car running on gasoline (which requires excessive refining before it can be used). EVs are better but we should also look at modernizing grid plants.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Ah, Thanks. I found an old Reuters article: https://www.reuters.com/business/cop/is-your-electric-car-eco-friendly-you-thought-2021-11-10/

It's for the EU. The USA is probably somewhere amongst the not so good countries. Wikipedia says 61% of natural gas and coal, 20% nuclear and just 18% renewable.

Seems complicated. But generally true if you have some clean energy in the mix. I think we should go competely for renewable, the sooner the better. I mean in the end neither coal nor gasoline is sustainable. We're going to run out of both eventually. And there is the CO2. I mean the prediction is that well known oil deposits will run out in 30 years. And coal lasts us for 150 years. So we have to dig and find some more oil, but EVs and renewables are the future.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

the thing is that EVs are agnostic to their energy source. you could get 100% from your own home solar panel setup if you wanted to

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Sure. I meant you have to pay attention and do it right. In theory you can do all kinds of things. Drive super dirty vehicles to none at all and use your bicycle and the train. But the actual CO2 emissions depend on what we all actually decide to do. A solar panel would be a excellent. Especially if you live in the south where you get plenty of sun.