E.W. NiedermeyerFeb 27, 2023

Big, data-viz-y article from the NYT on a fairly well-understood point: giant, expensive EVs aren't better for the environment than small non-EV cars.

Slowly we're coming to terms with the fact that Elon sold the public a load of goods. We've been subsidizing these luxury EVs for years, hoping it would lead to something better. It hasn't. We've been had.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/02/17/climate/electric-vehicle-emissions-truck-suv.html

Just How Good for the Planet Is That Big Electric Pickup Truck?

E.V.s are usually a more climate-friendly option. But as they bulk up, their emissions savings, and other environmental and safety benefits, begin to diminish.

The New York Times
Show threadE.W. NiedermeyerFeb 27, 2023

As I wrote last year in the Times opinion section, the EV market's addiction to big batteries is a fundamental problem. We can't scale battery supply fast enough, so not only are EVs largely unaffordable (in the US) but we aren't going to start seeing scale-based efficiencies until we get through a decade of supply shortages.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/27/opinion/electric-car-battery-range.html

Opinion | We Can’t Just Throw Bigger Batteries at Electric Vehicles

There are better ways to use batteries than putting them in premium E.V.s.

Show threadE.W. Niedermeyer
I actually just submitted a draft on another aspect of this problem to an editor. I didn't think I'd end up writing about this topic as much as I have been (boring old regular cars, really?) but it's been a really interesting topic to explore. We're in a fascinating moment in our long and dramatic relationship with cars, and that's all I'm gonna say for now so I don't scoop myself here lol
Feb 27, 2023 at 7:10pmWeb