One of these cars is not like the others...

Peter Rukavina

Never have I have been so sheepish as when I got in my “dinosaur-powered” VW Jetta, after tonight’s PEI Electric Vehicle Association meeting, and rumbled off. While everyone else was alighting their silent electric cars and smoothly gliding home.

Comments

Submitted by Oliver B on

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But they do say the meek shall inherit the Earth. The biggest impact of an auto often is the process by which it was manufactured, and because of the batteries this is especially true for electrics. You're enabling your Jetta's manufacturing impact to go a long way--longer than it would for an owner who didn't care for and maintain it to last, because he or she replaced their cars every few years...for instance to buy a hybrid or electric.

Submitted by Elmine on

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I was just about to make the same argument as Oliver B. The longer you use your car, the less overall impact it has on the environment. Keep driving it until it’s beyond repair!

Submitted by Rosie on

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Agree with Oliver B and Elmine. Those cars also burn dinosaurs, but indirectly (unless the wind is blowing). We won't solve capitalism with shiny status symbols! Though if you're feeling socially shamed, maybe a bumper sticker about the R-value of your house? ;)

Submitted by Oliver B on

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A nice graphic I just stumbled on, which shows the difference made by how green your electricity is:
http://www.saxifrages.org/cgi-bin/eco/show_article_attachment.cgi?TY=ga&ID=85&F=climate-choices-travel-tonne-%28print%29.jpg&X=1457116025000/climate-choices-travel-tonne-%28print%29.jpg

Submitted by Jarek on

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(It might be worth noting that even when wind is not blowing, PEI electricity is substantially provided by New Brunswick's hydro, NB nuclear, and Quebec's hydro. NB exports' carbon intensity is around 300 gCOeq/kWh, which is more than the 160 g "Canadian average" in the graphic linked by Oliver B but much better than the 534 g U.S. average. But yes, keep a car working once it's been manufactured.)

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Photo of Peter RukavinaI am . I am a writer, letterpress printer, and a curious person.

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