if toyota will be reviled, what will they say about the companies that didn't help lead the way? without toyota, there would be no tesla further, automobiles are only a very small part of the puzzle. we are actually way too adamant here about fossil fuels and personal transportation. this being a car site, understandable, but of little importance in the scheme of things. if i buy a yukon xl tomorrow, it matters not.
Perhaps not, but if you did . Good point. Almost 30% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions come from the transportation sector, but only part of that is ones own personal vehicle(s). A large part of that comes from airplanes and commercial trucks, ships, and trains. And almost all of that is fossil fuel based. If one is proud that the electric vehicle one drives is saving humanity, but flys around in planes, one is doing quite a bit less than one thinks. At least, not enough to criticize others also trying to make a difference. Electricity production also generates almost 30% of GHG emissions, but only part of that is residential. Directly this can be displaced by the individual at home with solar or other renewables. But you can't directly abate the GHG emissions of other commercial and industrial businesses that provide one the infrastructure that is an inseparable part of our lives. Even at home, if you don't have a very large battery back-up system, you are very likely using fossil fuel energy at night to power your home. Heating a home or commercial building is also GHG intensive. If you are proud your BEV is saving humanity but burning fossil fuel to warm you home (natural gas, heating oil, etc.)... Agriculture is responsible for almost 10% of emissions in the U.S.. This could be reduced with a vegan or vegetarian diet (I'm rather guilty here). IIRC the person recently accused of not being environmentally responsible enough is ahead of most of us on these grounds. Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions | US EPA Frustrating to see anyone on these threads revile another here on environmental grounds. We're largely on the same "team". That sort of misplaced "motivation" would be much better channeled with some kinder education and examples to folks who are not normally drawn to these boards.
Well said @iplug Emissions aside, as Elon said, the most important reason to buy a Tesla is because it is the safest vehicle on the road.
Sure attack the messenger rather than the issues resulting from climate change. When you don't have a good counter-argument resort to epithets.
GM started to lead the way years ago, before Toyota, and then killed the electric car because it did not financially support their dealership marketing program. The reason Toyota started producing hybrids was to increase their bottom line, it was never about environmental commitment. Oh but it is of major importance in the scheme of things. It is about attitude toward personal commitments. It does matter if you buy a Yukon tomorrow. Too many people think that the little bit you might do, does matter when you multiply that commitment by millions of people. Too many people (millions) think that it is somebody else's job to do something, not them
You started the blowhard comment. Let’s refresh your memory: you replied to someone who made an environmentally progressive and innocent statement (“i'll probably wind up with a used leaf or niro”)by telling him that he would wind up with “various forms of cancer as a result of not being proactive on climate change and environmental degradation”. You, the accuser, are offended when called out on this? Then have the nerve to ignore the counter arguments made, such as in post #322. You put yourself out there as morally superior, ridiculing others who are striving to do good and actually doing good in this area. Yet still you have not told us what your carbon footprint is. Do you not fly on airplanes? Do not heat your house or your water to shower or wash your clothes or dishes with fossil fuels? Are you a vegan? Tell us how righteous you are.
If you eat and breathe on this planet, and especially in this country (USA), you are part of the problem. If you want to help lighten the environmental load, you should stop doing those things and encourage as many of your friends and family to do the same.
Tesla Semi concept has encouraged others to jump into electric commercial vehicles. There are now concepts for electric planes and ships. It is a continuum. not an overnight occurence. It is a continuum. Each one of us needs to commit to that transition. Multiply that by millions of commitments and that does make a difference. That is incorrect. If you generate more electricity during the day than you use, it goes into the grid (sort of like banking it). At night you just "withdraw" some of your daily contribution from your grid account. Besides 30% of GHG emissions, manufacturing and electricty accounts for 50% of GHGs. Some of that manufacturing GHG is from automobile manufacturing. I am happy to see that Tesla is converting to PV for auto and battery manufacturing and generation of power at Superchargers. Most of us have the option of converting to PV, wind, hydro or other renewables at our personal residences. How many will take advantage of that? You can go all electric at your home if you choose, especially in a mild climate area like you and I live. I have converted to vegetarian and have lost 50 pounds as a result. Plus many of my health issues related to being overweight have disappeared. I said Toyota will be reviled not "anyone." Toyota could and should be a leader in the BEV movement but they are putting their bottom line ahead of social responsibility. That strategy is about to bite them in the tailpipe. This is exactly where the motivation should be channeled to start with. People who drive a Toyota hybrid have "dipped their toe in the water" so to speak. Now that we understand that their is life beyond a strictly ICEV, this is the market segment that will lead the plunge and jump all the way in by driving a BEV of whatever brand. Tesla's are a common sight in California now. There has been a dramatic increase in just the last year. Lead, follow, or get out of the way.
Incorrect. Unless you have a large battery at your residence, you aren't sort of banking anything. It may be "net zero" but the grid doesn't store electricity. Fossil fuel is still burned at night on your behalf. Still have not told us how many plane trips you take a year. Still have not told us how you heat your home or water.
unfortunately, most fruits and veggies have to be shipped here from october through may, and june through september, we can only grow a small portion
Do you also think that the “bank” is free and doesn’t have operating fees? Do they just wait for your electricity and don’t produce any of their own? There is a floor to their minimum operating capabilities and they will continue to use fossil fuels unless everyone disconnects from the grid. Earlier this year we put solar on our house and Solar City was in the running. I was curious about a power wall but the salesman that quoted us laughed and said “that ain’t gonna happen any time soon.” So went with Sun Power instead. I may not have the smallest carbon footprint, but I’m doing my part. To chastise is to not acknowledge. To belittle shows to the person and their stature, or their own perception of it.
PROGRESS. I produce more PV power than I use. No fossil fuel is burned at night on MY behalf. In fact, I get a rebate check from SoCal Edison every January for over-generation. When I can go completely off-grid (currently not permitted in California just to keep the public utilities from going bankrupt) that is when I will go battery backup Last year I took one plane flight (the flight was 100% full much to my discomfort). My goal for 2019 is no plane trips for environmental and comfort reasons. But again, it is a continuum. It ids not about reducing air travel to zero, it is about reducing the amount of air travel each year All electric from my oversized PV system.
Yes and no. You don't understand how a PV system works. I am charged about $5 per month for administrative fees. However, I get all of that back, and more, every January. California has required that utilities convert to 100% renewables in 10 years. We are ahead of schedule at this time with something like 40% electricity produced by renewables. Well things have changed in the last year. It is happening. And how is that Sun Power power wall battery backup working for you? I am happy you are taking some responsibility but we can all do more regardless of their stature and perception of it.
Many of us produce more PV than we use, but with no battery at night you are getting all of your power from the grid then. You have still not said how your house or water is heated. So what is the energy source of your water heater and furnace? Is it natural gas as is with most who live in the Inland Empire? Or do you have electric resistance or heat pumps? Even if that were the case, your do not get your grid electricity at night from anything close to 100% renewable. You don't have to leave the grid to go 100% battery.
I wonder what the ratio of pollution produced by Space-X is to the pollution saved by Teslas. And just maybe the tariff-reduced shipping pollution reductions outstrips em all.
I’m glad you know what I know and what I don’t know. I pay $10 a month for the privilege of being connected to the grid here in the Bay Area, and do I think I’ll get money back at my annual true up woth PG&E: yes. Do I think that $10 a month allows them to cover the loss of the customer to their grid enough to offset operating expenses: no. Am I doing what others have done and pay what they ask: yes. Are all areas of the country as fortunate to have access to enough sun to power my house and needs: no. In those areas where solar isn’t as viable are there other alternatives to fossil fuels: yes. Are people who live in those areas as readily accepting of those alternative energy sources at this point: no. Since I am connected to the grid, the grid as the source of power works as designed. Since we had the panels installed April 30th and it is about 7 months later, I doubt much has shifted in terms of power wall availability. Given Musk has slept on the production floor “inspiring” Model3 production, my bet is it hasn’t. But I’ll be from Missouri on this one: show me it has improved. So I’m not just speaking from my specific situation when I talk about carbon footprint. Again chastising others just to do so is not productive .
