Electric vehicles

[Reckless Rat]

Everything is relative. I would guess that the amount of energy used in making cars of whatever fuel is quite considerable, especially hybrids and electric using up valuable and rare earths.

I still run a large but quite economical diesel car. It is 18 years old. If I'd still been working I would have changed it for a new one every 3 years (because I could afford it when I was working) so I have saved the planet the energy necessary to build 5 cars in the time I have owned it. OK, I accept that there are some pollution issues with earlier diesels (mine is EURO4) but in the 18 years it has covered a paltry 275,000km or 171,000miles. That's a reasonable average of just under 10k miles a year. Its fuel consumption is on average 50mpg as it is mainly used on long motorway runs. It has only had two sets of brake pads in its lifetime because I don't need to brake much. It is reasonably heavy on tyres but it will do 30K km on a set. The argument is still ongoing regarding diesel v petrol. Whilst diesel combustion does creat Nitrous oxides and soot, research has proven that this can be virtually eliminated, and a diesel vehicle creates much less CO² than a petrol motor.

I think I will continue to use my (current anti diesel speak) gas guzzling diesel polluter for as long as I can and bollocks to the environmentalists. It will make sod all difference in my view.

When Vesuvius finally erupts it will pump out more CO² than every car ever owned in the space of a few days.