• DragonTypeWyvern@literature.cafe
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    3
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    1 year ago

    EV cars are meant to be powered with green energy, but you need a demand and a supply of that first or you’re just powering them with coal instead of oil.

    • Cryophilia@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      edit-2
      1 year ago

      Common myth. Coal makes up a small percentage of power in the US and Europe, and EVs powered by literally anything other than coal (including natural gas) are a net win for the climate over ICE vehicles.

      For example, where I live, coal is 3% of the energy mix. Renewables (including hydro) are 42%, and nuclear is 9%.

        • Cryophilia@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          edit-2
          1 year ago

          38% natural gas and the rest “unspecified”, probably smaller energy generation projects that don’t fit neatly into other categories.

          Edit: did some more research and “unspecified” means power imported from other states that didn’t document the source of the power.

          • DragonTypeWyvern@literature.cafe
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            1 year ago

            You realize natural gas is a major contributor to the greenhouse effect, right? When people talk about going to green energy, only the fossil fuel industries pretend gas, or for that matter “clean coal,” is part of it.

            And sure, it contributes less per kilowatt but the current concerns are that we’re either already over the threshold or won’t convert in time.

            • Cryophilia@lemmy.world
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              1
              ·
              1 year ago

              Cool, but that’s a whole separate conversation.

              An EV powered by 100% natural gas is still a lot better for the climate than an ICE vehicle.

              And note that natural gas is a decreasing amount of the energy mix.