RE:RE:A useful Global Perspective on energy and emissions Yasch22,
You are a much respected contributor to Stockhouse BB and I am priviledge to read and ponder your analysis and opinions. I agree with some of your observations below but, as can be natural in good faith discussion, I have significant concern on one particular issue("dirty energy"):
- "Toyota has been the most resistant to the EV revolution" ... They're one of the only OEMs that hasn't yet released an EV" ... I respectfully disagree... their involvement seemed a lot more related to market-readiness-reality considerations... example Toyota's pioneering participation with Chinese major company BYD whose Blade batteries were central to the Toyota Corolla EV that are produced there.
- "Speaking of the "Dirty Electricity" argument, it doesn't hold its electrons... Even if an EV gets all of its electricity from a grid powered by coal, the EV produces less emissions than if it burned gasoline or diesel.... I fully agree during the transportation use phase but there is a huge gap in this thinking which can be summarized under the concept "cradle to grave" perspective and responsibilities.
- To expand on this "gap" let's place temporarily to the side important considerations of mining, mineral processing, minerals/metals transportation, manufacturing, effective vehicle retirement/disposals... and focus just on the "dirty electricity" argument:
It is historical fact that
increased availability of Energy has been an essential, in living standards advancements in society, evolving from much physical labour and struggle for food, etc., to our current state of diverse human society. Therefore, as relative sharing of these advances at a world-wide level proceeds,
the world will demand More Energy. Therefore, in a global perspective, as we replace fossil fuel energy by electricity to fuel EV's this electricity to fuel EV's will, in effect, require new power generation. Where is this energy coming from? is a critical question in addition to the clearly favourable but narrow comparison of EV emissions vs. ICE in actual transportation. When we look carefully at the current world-wide plans and projections to increase Electrical Power Generation, the generation from Renewables is great, but still such a small overall percentage.
Now bring back in the considerations of mining, mineral processing, minerals/metals transportation, manufacturing, effective vehicle retirement/disposals and the video below, viewed in this context, represents important issues for which we need deliberation and cooperation, technology innovations and vision, to effectively accomplish the necessary "Green" future,
Peace,
ElJ