Comment by Atreiden
1 day ago
True, but that's not a limitation of EVs but rather the state of energy production in most countries. An economy that moves towards solar/nuclear/wind will see blanket decreases in emissions across the entire fleet of EVs it supports.
Not to mention that even in the current state of affairs in the US, the emissions are far lower on average. Even in states where production is 60% coal: http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2023/ph240/stafford1/
The word is "less", not "no" and I think that's the magical thinking OP was trying to address. Electric cars create LESS emissions, not none.
Unless they're charged by wind or solar, in which case no, during their operation, nothing is emitted into the atmosphere.
It's not really magical thinking; if the grid moves to solar/nuclear/wind then there are virtually no emissions here.
Yes, we're not there yet, and that's why I prefaced with "True", but I think this kind of splitting hairs is part of the problem. EVs are vastly better for the environment and have no emissions of their own. Yes emissions do come from somewhere in the current state, but path to a cleaner environment is not radically far away and the thesis that "emissions come from somewhere so that's not a reason to buy an EV" is ludicrous at best and disingenuous at worst.