The Global EV Drivers’ Alliance, comprised of EV driver associations in nearly 40 countries around the world, including Plug In America, has released the following statement:
We need to speak the truth. The Russian war against Ukraine is being paid for by exports of oil and gas, just like all of Putin’s previous wars. If everybody in our countries drove electric vehicles and their electricity came from renewables, this war would probably not be happening. And Russia is just today’s example of oil exporters fueling wars. Oil and gas exports fund violent conflict around in the world.
But it’s not just war. Oil and gas exports fuel corruption and oligarchy too. The next time you see a $100 million mega-yacht, know that it was probably paid for with oil and gas proceeds. Oil and gas exports typically put vast wealth into a few pockets, making democracy difficult and sometimes impossible.
Electricity is locally produced and many cities and countries produce their own power. It rarely crosses international borders and it mostly pays for local jobs. When you buy electricity, you are investing in building out the grid, renewable power generation and charging infrastructure.
This war in Ukraine is a catastrophic human tragedy. No matter how it ends, it will certainly be one of the defining events of our century.
But in fact, we are not bystanders. We are funding it every time we fuel our cars. That is why GEVA members are calling on our countries to take decisive and rapid action, not just to end Russian petroleum imports, but to eliminate the demand for petroleum by taking all the steps necessary to accelerate the shift to electric transport NOW. We know all the pieces that need to be in place to build and deliver the cars and charging infrastructure. But this is not a 20-year project, this is a project that calls for action today.
hI GUYS. WOULD IT BE VIABLE to convert my 2008 Prius to electric??
There are billions of well- made vehicles in the world today that can give many years more service to their owners, and the only problem is their ICE power train. It would be a tragic loss of resources to send all those cars to the junk yard to replace with EVs. The solution is to create an intelligent EV conversion industry, which first starts with converting the most popular vehicles because they are the most numerous, since the challenge to design an EV drive train, once developed, could be used to electrify all of the other similarly designed vehicles.
The most popular vehicle sold today is the F 150, but all pickups would have the advantage of a large, unused area under the pickup bed which is ideal for situating a battery pack that will have the added benefits of lowering the center of gravity which will make them more resistant to body roll, and once the engine is removed, will give you an enormous frunk for additional cargo space.
This is the direction we should be moving to increase the speed of EV adoption. The other pickups such as the Chevy Siverado and Dodge Ram can follow soon after, as well as sedans, sports cars and SUVs, such as Mustangs, Camaros, Vettes, etc.
Actually, if you are eligible for the tax rebate there are a couple of EV’s out there you can get for about 20K. If you choose a used car from those same brands it will be even lower. And right now with oil at $4.00+ a gallon, the difference in fuel cost is about 7+ x’s less for an EV, and has virtually no maintenance cost. Also consider hybrids.
Unfortunately there are too many of the GOP party of polluters that are addicted to oil. This is what GW Bush said. Too many GOP ppl have listened to Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity saying climate change is a hoax. However Sarah Palin said you really see climate change in AK back 2008. Today the permafrost is in meltdown and the AK pipeline is on the permafrost. It will only get worse as more polluting vehicles are made
When considering an EV purchase, you will want to charge at home. (240 volt level 2) When you charge at home you are skipping the middle man. This way you will benefit fit from the cost savings, and convince, of charging at home. When it comes to range, you should consider; reduction in range due to cold climate, and aging of the battery over time. Factor in 20% for each. If you do a lot hyway driving > 50 MPH. Factor in another 20% Reduction in range.
Well done Joel.
I would need a grant or maybe and even trade
Thier is about 10 $100 million plus mega yachts in the world. Not all these are owned by people in the oil industry. The vast majority of electricity is generated from fossil fuels. The reason electric vehicles are better for the inviroment is they are more efficient than gas powered cars. Unfortunately just slapping some solar panels on your roof is not the complete solution. Energy storage is needed to maintain electrical grid stability. The state of Hawaii found they had severe grid stability issues when they reach about 10% of thier customers had solar. But yeh, another unfortunate thing about energy storage it cost money to implement.
Sounds great, but what about the $2,000 used car? Someone that drives maybe 50-75 miles a week, a couple kids to run to school, appointments, groceries etc. Someone who can’t afford, doesn’t want a $200+ month lease payment. Ride share/public transit might be too inconvenient, or not available. Im 41 and never paid more than $6k for a car, and most were $3k and under. I’m looking into an ev, but need range of 125 miles, and somewhere between $15 and $20k, but pretty much nothing out there.
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