Electric cars, and the national grid!

[AJSki2fly]

Well if the coronavirus pandemic really gets going and it mutates a few times the global power requirement might drop if we loose 2-3 billion on the way through it. Then if it left most that got it and survived infertile then we might very quickly loose in a couple of generations 60% of the world population. Most would be so focused on growing food, they wouldn’t be travelling much and trips abroad would be out of the question. Problem solved.

[Clive]

Well if the coronavirus pandemic really gets going and it mutates a few times the global power requirement might drop if we loose 2-3 billion on the way through it. Then if it left most that got it and survived infertile then we might very quickly loose in a couple of generations 60% of the world population. Most would be so focused on growing food, they wouldn’t be travelling much and trips abroad would be out of the question. Problem solved.

This is one of the solutions...except it needs bigger numbers. There are simply too many people on this planet. I don't seriously advocate people dying but population growth is killing us.

BTW car pollution is nothing compared to shipping goods from China for Amazon to sell to us. https://inews.co.uk/news/long-reads/...llution-515489

Forget long distance trade deals, we need to buy U.K. or relatively locally in Europe.

[NickB]

I see that link talks about off-shore wind farms. Maybe it’s an improvement in terms of co2 overall but bear in mind manufacturing a windmill and installing it requires 10 years of electricity generation to nullify the co2 created within these processes. A lot of the modern co2 saving measures have a huge co2 footprint upfront...

Also, as we massively industrialise these technologies we need to be aware that we may change the way the climate and ocean currents work. Massive wind farms, solar farms, wave power, mining the ocean bed for things like neodymium (for magnets)...these things have to be fully assessed. Maybe they are better than tweaking our existing technology but there could equally be a huge learning phase where it goes wrong.

We must assess the whole lifecycle of whatever we do and not blindly believe the hype that everything electric is better.

No, I am sure that sticking with Diesel,Petrol, Coal and Gas is a much better idea.

[Clive]

No, I am sure that sticking with Diesel,Petrol, Coal and Gas is a much better idea.

I’m saying fossil vs green power is not as simple as we’d like to believe. Green power is not as green as you’d hope. Look at the bigger things that need fixing. Shipping is a mega one that’s far more important than EVs. Take carbon capture technology into account. My son is doing a masters in this currently, it has to be part of the equation. My son’s partner is an environmentalist, she doesn’t fixate on cars, they are not the top priority. Even Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party doesn’t have an EV, he has an ICE car!

For the sake of the planet don’t fall for the sound bites. Think it through. We need a mix of measures, EVs have their place. Oh yes...drive far less in the first place....we must have better, much better public transport.

[Ali Tait]

Well said Clive, you are correct, we need to focus on what’s really important.

[dave2010]

I get you, Nick, but I still like to HEAR an engine!

Marco.

You'll go deaf, you know!

Go stand behind a Tornado or similar taking off - without wearing ear defenders. Maybe that'll "do" it for you!

[anthonyTD]

I see that link talks about off-shore wind farms. Maybe it’s an improvement in terms of co2 overall but bear in mind manufacturing a windmill and installing it requires 10 years of electricity generation to nullify the co2 created within these processes. A lot of the modern co2 saving measures have a huge co2 footprint upfront...

Also, as we massively industrialise these technologies we need to be aware that we may change the way the climate and ocean currents work. Massive wind farms, solar farms, wave power, mining the ocean bed for things like neodymium (for magnets)...these things have to be fully assessed. Maybe they are better than tweaking our existing technology but there could equally be a huge learning phase where it goes wrong.

We must assess the whole lifecycle of whatever we do and not blindly believe the hype that everything electric is better.

[Pigmy Pony]

I get you, Nick, but I still like to HEAR an engine!

Marco.

You can always make 'brum brum' noises yourself as you go along the road

Anyway, I'm not sure how much engine noise you could hear, above your 3 grand car stereo. I suppose the rap music you favour does sound a bit like a loud car - one that's broken down, with all the associated swearing

[NickB]

I’m saying fossil vs green power is not as simple as we’d like to believe. Green power is not as green as you’d hope. Look at the bigger things that need fixing. Shipping is a mega one that’s far more important than EVs. Take carbon capture technology into account. My son is doing a masters in this currently, it has to be part of the equation. My son’s partner is an environmentalist, she doesn’t fixate on cars, they are not the top priority. Even Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party doesn’t have an EV, he has an ICE car!

For the sake of the planet don’t fall for the sound bites. Think it through. We need a mix of measures, EVs have their place. Oh yes...drive far less in the first place....we must have better, much better public transport.

Yes, but I don’t understand why every answer needs to be the perfect answer, doing nothing is worse and using other sectors problems to justify lack of action is a very Trump way of behaving.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Marco]

You can always make 'brum brum' noises yourself as you go along the road

Anyway, I'm not sure how much engine noise you could hear, above your 3 grand car stereo. I suppose the rap music you favour does sound a bit like a loud car - one that's broken down, with all the associated swearing

Heh-heh... I love how you remember the details, such as the cost of my car stereo - shows you're paying attention!

If that's playing, I'll hear feck all apart from the music (and when the car's stationary, that also applies to anyone within a 250-yard radius), but quite often I'll drive with no music on and just listen to the purr/roar (when I accelerate) of the engine, and the 'sweet music played' by the fat-assed quad exhaust system... Oh yeah, baby!

Marco.

P.S In the car I don't just listen to rap, but heavy rock/thrash metal/indie/dance or R&B - anything that creates a cool vibe, preferably with a wicked bass-line, and makes driving fun