Comments by "Michael RCH" (@michaelrch) on "" video.

  1. Bobbie Kanary It's true that you getting an EV in itself won't make much difference and the change has to be pushed through regulation, but it's also true that if you did buy an EV, you would send a signal to your community, and the automakers and the government that people want action. People are prepared to invest in action themselves and that taking action is now normal, even expected. If the number of EVs or PHEVs on the road starts rising rapidly, people will notice. People respond to those cues. People will think "yeah, next time we buy a car let's get an electric one." Social signalling is the "pull" part of the equation. It opens the door for government to drive through policy.
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  2. Bobbie Kanary That wasn't my point at all. I'm saying that IF you could consider a new car then thinking "well my contribution to emissions isn't significant" isn't the whole picture. I strongly support incentives for EVs and for rolling out charging infrastructure. EVs have a higher sticker price but cost a fraction of a gas car to run. I also favor a carbon fee and dividend. This taxes carbon sources but then pays everyone an equal dividend each month from the proceeds. It strongly favors the poor and working class because they contribute much less than the average in emissions. They actually make money out if it. Only the top 20% by income come out down - because they are ones producing most emissions by far. Canada is doing this and it's working great. France should have done but Macron is either not able to get it through or doesn't want to, so he got the Yellow Vest demonstrations instead. There is a bill to make it happen in the US Energyinnovationact.org It's a great plan. Force fossil fuels out without hurting the poor, or the economy.
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  3. Bobbie Kanary I am not saying that you must buy a new car under the current system. I'm saying that by getting incentives, carbon dividends and lower running costs, you will be able to get a new car that you can afford. I'm also saying that for those who CAN afford an EV now, they should do it because it's impact is more than just their own personal emissions. As an aside I would also add that proper public transport and smart car sharing will also do a lot to reduce people's need to even bear the cost of a car. If you have good alternatives to buying and owning a car (that you use 5-10% of the day) then you save a load of money which you can spend on other things and emissions go down dramatically.
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  4. Bobbie Kanary Did you read what I said? I said I DIDN'T expect you to buy a new car yet. And if you live in your car, then FWIW you stand to save a LOT of money by switching from gas to electric. The cost per mile on electric is typically about a fifth of the cost of gas. Servicing is cheaper. Maintenance is cheaper. If you lease the vehicle then you save money from day one. You assume that I have no experience of poverty. I have plenty. You assume I am telling you what to do. I am not. I am just telling you how the economics of EVs work and telling you how good tax policy could make EVs reality for everyone and how a good carbon tax will directly benefit YOU and not me. Bottom line, if we are still driving gas cars in 10-15 years then the planet is irrevocably screwed and poverty will get much much worse. The effects of climate change are already here. They're going to get worse. How much depends on what we do now and how bold we are in transforming our economy and energy system.
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