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So every car that does more than 32500 comes out ahead, which is basically all of them.

Youd need to commit to keeping the car for over a decade while only doing 3000 miles per year, then blowing it up out of spite to fail that.



Only if the electricity is net zero carbon though (and, really, only if the generation of that low-carbon electricity somehow is related to driving the car and wouldn't have been generated anyway).


Why does it have to be net zero? That would certainly get you to breakeven in less miles but it is by no means a requirement for an EV having a carbon advantage over an ICE.


Right, if you live in West Virginia, it is entirely possible to never have a break even point, as in, it will never save CO2 to buy an EV.


According to the Energy Dept site listed upthread, even in WV with 92% coal generation an EV emits half the CO2 per mile as an ICE.

You really have to consider all the variables, ie grid carbon intensity, miles driven and car manufacturing. People seem to get focused on one of the variables in the carbon lifecycle.


You could always move somewhere energy generation isn't so dirty especially as its probably also effecting your air quality not to speak of the employment options.


Is it ahead really?

The total carbon is still gonna be higher than not doing all that travel


If you can actually avoid the travel, sure.

I have been able to avoid travelling by car[0], but I have the luck of being in a city with good public transport and local-sized shops, so there are 5 tram stops (and several bus stops and a suburban rail station) and 8 supermarkets closer to me than the gap between the middles of Apple's south car park and their duck pond.

And back in Cambridgeshire, roads were quiet enough I was comfortable commuting (and shopping) by bike.

Not everyone is in such a well-designed place.

[0] I don't own a car, and the last time I was behind a wheel was, I think, 2017.




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