Readers:
The nature of human adoption tends to follow something like: Visionaries, then leaders, the thundering masses, and finally the doubters and naysayers. Pick the topic and that process will tend to manifest itself. It what it is. Sometimes we even get posts based on poor data. Lets see if I can clear anything up:
Environment and EV's:
1) If I was a global dictator I would address the worlds pollution by starting w/China and heading next to India in a macro sense, not just auto's. Per dollar, I would deliver (IMO) better results than anything I can do regardless of intent.
2) I quickly think about the old saw about figures lying. I've seen scads of arguments on both sides of EV environmental impact, and generally find the doubters reports (when said reports release their data), tend to be based on:
A. Energy supplied to the EV is assumed to be coal (which today is ~20% and falling)
B. Battery production implications aren't based on present day costs/impacts.
C. Battery production concerns fail to project for evolution. Evolution most certainly happens each and every day (We're right back to visionaries vs naysayers/doubters).
D. Myths are common, and usually hard to ferret out without digging into the flawed "science". Not a lot I can do. Here:
https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/electric-vehicle-myths
Grid cost will go up with EV expansion:
I've never seen support for such a thing. In fact, the vast majority of utility providers have substantial cost breaks in evening hours (off-peak), and many are giving even more price breaks for buying EV's. And of course most EV's are charged at night...
This is close to the claim of "our grid can't support it", which is of course nonsense. An electric clothes dryer or oven (anybody taking about cancelling thanksgiving?) takes more power, as does our nations HVAC plants. Little of said current demand, to say nothing of closed business, are in use while we're charging our EV's at night.
Duck Curve is another discussion of course, but I don't see a lot of renewables fluent posters in auto forums so I don't know that we should dip into V2G, V2H, OCPP/OCHP and etc.. For those so interested I suggest another thread, I'm happy to exchange thoughts there.
Renters are 1/3rd of the nation:
A. A market of 2/3rd of the nation is bad? We're back to the human nature of adoption mentioned above I guess, but a market potential of 66% is pretty darn hard to find.
B. Meanwhile, data can be misleading. Example: 40% of those renting are renting single family homes. Meaning well over 80% of US dwellers are in owned and/or single family unit's.
C. None of that's to say that a percentage of the populace, for a variety of reasons, won't have home charging as an option. Let me be clear: A percentage will not! This however, is key: Change, evolution, only comes when/as market demands. So it will be for charge at work, appt complexes stations, and etc..
D. I grant some will feel EV's are only reasonable to support if it improves their own life immediately. Societal responsibility is again another discussion outside of scope of Ram trucks (and not exactly unique to EV's).
"For those not among the 1% with home solar setups the electricity to charge EVs comes from the grid and is made by burning coal, oil and natural gas".
All forums and threads take a certain amount of statements that simply aren't accurate. Nature of the beast, and not a lot to be done about it. However, let me get us at least closer to real data. Just off my head I believe the US grid (and I'm going to be much much closer than above) are:
~20% from renewables (solar, hydo, wind)
~20% from nuclear
~20% from coal
~40~ natural gas
That's from memory so I'll be off a bit, but golly: Ignoring the grid generation of solar, wing, hydro, and nuc isn't insightful or useful. And once again if we look at evolution of the nations grid we see clear downward trends in coal, heightened interest in nuc expansion, and huge growth in solar and wind, etc.. How soon will the future manifest itself? You're a part of that!
Some of us, typically those prone to making longer term investment grade decisions, buy solar, wind generators, etc. 1%? More bad data: I'm seeing ~6% of homes in '23-24 data, and at this date I believe solar alone now makes more power than hydro. More, I know folks living in huge apartment complexes that invest in solar farms, wind farms, and etc and get energy discounts and a marketable asset too!
Let me close with these thoughts:
1) In my time in solar and EV's I've noted those that know the topics well are invariably supporters and those that don't...
2) EV and renewables adoption is well past the visionary, is passing through those with engineering and technology expertise, now is in at least the hands of those willing to lead, and is even moving into the hands of Jane and Joe average. These last steps bring the most challenge. Candidly there are more than a few wrinkles and problems to cover, some untouched in these posts. However:
1) Change, evolution, happens. When you embrace change, warts and all, perhaps even support it, varies from person to person. It comes down to what you see as the future and how soon it makes sense to you to participate in that. Some will demonize change (not new, right?). It's a bit like religion: Spread the light to those seeking it, move past those reacting or rejecting as politely as possible.
In the hopes I've spread a little light on better data....
-d
