So, you want to buy a Tesla to save the environment?

bambino's Avatar
Lithium mining is far more destructive to the environment than drilling for oil. How do you discard old batteries? Where do you put them?
To me not entirely about the environment, but preserving a resource for future generations that is being used faster that replenished. Range of EVs is factor, but most of us rich as we espoused on this board have multiple vehicles. So why not an EV for short hauls (or sport, as they are fast), and a liner for cruising? I drive over 300 miles maybe twice a year, otherwise take my Citation LOL.

Battery disposal problem yeah, but where does waste oil go? Fewer moving parts equals less maintenance. Gas cars replaced horses. Adapt or be left behind. Never mind the dream of never owning a car, just summon and "rent".
pfunkdenver's Avatar
It's really fun to read those with no scientific background opine about what they don't know. The most correct comment her is that nothing is 100% in terms of energy conversion. Food for thought, what energy source is theoretically unlimited, therefore not as limited by conversion efficiency or scarcity of resource, at least until it implodes (we'll all be dead then)? Originally Posted by reddog1951
The Sun.
winn dixie's Avatar
The Sun. Originally Posted by pfunkdenver
excellent for cloudy weather or night time....
New thought here. Store for future use.
Jacuzzme's Avatar
I'll switch to an electric car when I can stop off and fill its battery in 5 minutes like I can with an internal combustion car. Having to stop for 4-6 hours every 300 miles defeats the point for me. Originally Posted by GastonGlock
A charging station would require a several thousand amp service to pull something like that off, and the cost to develop both the vehicles and power sources would be enormous. It’s not going to happen, certainly not with today’s technology and an aversion to practical power generation. In 50 years, who knows, but we have neither the generation or distribution capabilities now.

IMO tidal energy is where we should be looking for the future, since nuclear is (stupidly) the bogeyman. It’s predictable and consistent, unlike wind and solar. I believe they’re doing it wrong RN, using turbines spun by currents. Harnessing the compressive forces seems like it’d be better and cheaper to develop.

That aside, EVs are cool AF. Me neighbor has the Tesla sedan and it’s a blast to drive, super fast and super quiet, handles well too. I’d never buy one though because a) I drive way to much so charging at home wouldn’t cut it and b) I couldn’t work on it myself even though I work on multimillion dollar vehicles every day. Certainly things like brakes and suspension are easy enough, but not the power plant. I look under the hood and it’s totally Greek.
Ripmany's Avatar
Ripmany's Avatar
A charging station would require a several thousand amp service to pull something like that off, and the cost to develop both the vehicles and power sources would be enormous. It’s not going to happen, certainly not with today’s technology and an aversion to practical power generation. In 50 years, who knows, but we have neither the generation or distribution capabilities now.

IMO tidal energy is where we should be looking for the future, since nuclear is (stupidly) the bogeyman. It’s predictable and consistent, unlike wind and solar. I believe they’re doing it wrong RN, using turbines spun by currents. Harnessing the compressive forces seems like it’d be better and cheaper to develop.

That aside, EVs are cool AF. Me neighbor has the Tesla sedan and it’s a blast to drive, super fast and super quiet, handles well too. I’d never buy one though because a) I drive way to much so charging at home wouldn’t cut it and b) I couldn’t work on it myself even though I work on multimillion dollar vehicles every day. Certainly things like brakes and suspension are easy enough, but not the power plant. I look under the hood and it’s totally Greek. Originally Posted by Jacuzzme
It a bomb I see people out side mental hospital with Alzheimer in electric where chairs going around and around. I see electric car in future not Tulsa. Look at all gas cars that came and gone.
txdot-guy's Avatar
Electric cars won't be powered by lithium batteries forever. The good thing about electricity vs natural gas, diesel or gasoline, is that it doesn't matter how the electricity is produced or stored. It could be fuel cell, battery, or even a nuclear powered Delorean (1.21 gigawatts).

If we keep putting the research in we'll eventually come up with a battery storage or fuel cell technology that will be both cheap, long lasting, profitable and environmentally friendly. Or at least more friendly than what we have now.
winn dixie's Avatar
save the blind cave salamanders



oh and the albino crickets they eat
Ripmany's Avatar
I'll switch to an electric car when I can stop off and fill its battery in 5 minutes like I can with an internal combustion car. Having to stop for 4-6 hours every 300 miles defeats the point for me. Originally Posted by GastonGlock
I work a gastation
I post on eccie in-between costumers. https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7xknvh
goodman0422's Avatar
If people had any sense, rather than converting fuels like natural gas into electricity and using that electricity to run cars, why don't we skip the middleman and simply go to nat gas vehicles? The technology is proven, it causes LESS pollution and ecological damage than EVs, it's MUCH cheaper and the distribution could be made right through the existing network of gas stations already in place. Now THAT is a solution that will work for the next several decades until we can perfect cold fusion or whatever future technology might replace fossil fuels some day. Originally Posted by GaGambler
That's a really good idea and therefore unlikely to be implemented by a politician unless he has an interest in it.
Jacuzzme's Avatar
If we keep putting the research in we'll eventually come up with a battery storage or fuel cell technology that will be both cheap, long lasting, profitable and environmentally friendly. Or at least more friendly than what we have now. Originally Posted by txdot-guy
The problem is people pretend we already have it and want to issue arbitrary timelines to implement using it.
rexdutchman's Avatar
The issue is they pretend to be good for the planet but NO , battery,making and disposal And the grid the power comes form some wheres Hmm just another lie
"The problem is people pretend we already have it and want to issue arbitrary timelines to implement using it."

A boss from the past used to consistently set arbitrary timeliness and us underlings invariably met them. Kennedy did the same thing with the space race.

I understand that Texans "like" oil, but I'm not Texan.