<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for U.S. driving down 11 billion miles in March, the sharpest drop in history]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by human power http://www.grist.org/article/the-road-not-traveled/ Wed, 28 May 2008 10:48:55 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/the-road-not-traveled/1 Just a drop in the bucket

Would you really notice if only 24 fossil-fool powered wheelchairs passed you per block rather than the usual 25? No way.

If those plug-in hybrids do come online soon, we can kiss what is left of our living planet good-bye. Half of our electricity is generated by coal, which just happens to be the only source likely to be expanded to meet the rising demand created by new gimmick wheelchairs.

Considering that the U.S. must reduce its emissions by 80-90% in the next 15-20 years to avoid the most severe tipping points, we have some serious choices to make. Which will we choose, a living planet without cars, or a dead one?

]]> Just a drop in the bucket

Would you really notice if only 24 fossil-fool powered wheelchairs passed you per block rather than the usual 25? No way.

If those plug-in hybrids do come online soon, we can kiss what is left of our living planet good-bye. Half of our electricity is generated by coal, which just happens to be the only source likely to be expanded to meet the rising demand created by new gimmick wheelchairs.

Considering that the U.S. must reduce its emissions by 80-90% in the next 15-20 years to avoid the most severe tipping points, we have some serious choices to make. Which will we choose, a living planet without cars, or a dead one?

]]> Comment #2 by Tasermons Partner http://www.grist.org/article/the-road-not-traveled/ Wed, 28 May 2008 14:58:38 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/the-road-not-traveled/2 11 Billion down...

...and only 'bout 3 trillion to go.

Still, ya know what they say 'bout the journey of a thousand miles...

]]> 11 Billion down...

...and only 'bout 3 trillion to go.

Still, ya know what they say 'bout the journey of a thousand miles...

]]> Comment #3 by Tasermons Partner http://www.grist.org/article/the-road-not-traveled/ Wed, 28 May 2008 15:06:56 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/the-road-not-traveled/3 Hmm...

...I wonder if the graph evens out a smidget if we adjust for the population growth and make it miles driven per person?

]]> Hmm...

...I wonder if the graph evens out a smidget if we adjust for the population growth and make it miles driven per person?

]]> Comment #4 by Flamingo http://www.grist.org/article/the-road-not-traveled/ Thu, 29 May 2008 00:13:50 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/the-road-not-traveled/4 tease

Recent conversations have convinced me that could happen faster than I thought, but that is the subject of another blog post.

...that I hope you will write!

]]> tease

Recent conversations have convinced me that could happen faster than I thought, but that is the subject of another blog post.

...that I hope you will write!

]]> Comment #5 by guade00 http://www.grist.org/article/the-road-not-traveled/ Thu, 29 May 2008 01:19:34 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/the-road-not-traveled/5 RE: Just a drop in the bucket

The point is, fewer miles were driven, the miles didn't simply transfer to hybrid cars. No doubt the vehicle miles were made up in public transit and bicycle rides, at least to some extent. So, to say that hybrids will be the only way of the future, or even a significant part of it, is inapposite. Car owners are choosing other ways to get around, or just getting around less.

What's especially cool is that March was at least the third month running in which we observed a decrease. I haven't seen the 2006 figures, so it's hard to say whether there were decreases 2007-over-2006. But something is working, even if it is just high gas prices.

]]> RE: Just a drop in the bucket

The point is, fewer miles were driven, the miles didn't simply transfer to hybrid cars. No doubt the vehicle miles were made up in public transit and bicycle rides, at least to some extent. So, to say that hybrids will be the only way of the future, or even a significant part of it, is inapposite. Car owners are choosing other ways to get around, or just getting around less.

What's especially cool is that March was at least the third month running in which we observed a decrease. I haven't seen the 2006 figures, so it's hard to say whether there were decreases 2007-over-2006. But something is working, even if it is just high gas prices.

]]> Comment #6 by kengrubb http://www.grist.org/article/the-road-not-traveled/ Thu, 29 May 2008 05:14:03 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/the-road-not-traveled/6 All is NOT lost

Contrary to some misinformation, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) will not destroy the planet faster. In fact, the opposite is true.

A study by EPRI found that, even if most of our electricity continues to come from coal, we will still benefit greatly from PHEVs.

We'll reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and reduce petrol consumption. Also, plugging in PHEVs won't bring the power grid to a halt.

http://www.epri-reports.org/

There's a lot of data, but spend an hour and read the Press Release, Executive Summary, Technology Primer and PHEV FAQ. Then decide.

]]> All is NOT lost

Contrary to some misinformation, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) will not destroy the planet faster. In fact, the opposite is true.

A study by EPRI found that, even if most of our electricity continues to come from coal, we will still benefit greatly from PHEVs.

We'll reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and reduce petrol consumption. Also, plugging in PHEVs won't bring the power grid to a halt.

http://www.epri-reports.org/

There's a lot of data, but spend an hour and read the Press Release, Executive Summary, Technology Primer and PHEV FAQ. Then decide.

]]> Comment #7 by Sam Wells http://www.grist.org/article/the-road-not-traveled/ Thu, 29 May 2008 06:40:15 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/the-road-not-traveled/7 She complicated, got me a mule to ride

That's an old Taj Mahal lyric.

I don't know if EPRI has really evaluated regional markets to see what emissions come from electrifying certain sources such as cars and off-road machinery, since obviously some areas use more local than other, and state regulatory structures are complex.

One point, as I have found doing some work for EPRI, was that the cost of energy was cheaper when you compare kW-hours to use of fuel versus electricity. We have surpassed most the the "break-points" I had modeled (e.g., ~$3.50/gal diesel).

Upsteam and downstream costs and efficiencies for electric vehicles still haven't been standardized to my knowledge. Of course, if you're not talking plug-in vehicles, you can ignore my discussion. Hybrid combustion engines could turn out to be the worst of both worlds!

Onward through the fog

]]> She complicated, got me a mule to ride

That's an old Taj Mahal lyric.

I don't know if EPRI has really evaluated regional markets to see what emissions come from electrifying certain sources such as cars and off-road machinery, since obviously some areas use more local than other, and state regulatory structures are complex.

One point, as I have found doing some work for EPRI, was that the cost of energy was cheaper when you compare kW-hours to use of fuel versus electricity. We have surpassed most the the "break-points" I had modeled (e.g., ~$3.50/gal diesel).

Upsteam and downstream costs and efficiencies for electric vehicles still haven't been standardized to my knowledge. Of course, if you're not talking plug-in vehicles, you can ignore my discussion. Hybrid combustion engines could turn out to be the worst of both worlds!

Onward through the fog

]]>