I disagree that subsidizing EVs is the most eco friendly path.
Taking greenhouse gasses as an
a priori problem statement, the real issue is
not that we burn hydrocarbons for transportation fuel. The issue is that the hydrocarbons we are burning come from fossil fuels, which releases carbon that has been sequestered for millions of years.
If the fuel we use comes from existing atmospheric CO2 or other non-fossil-fuel carbon sources, it does not have the effect of increasing atmospheric carbon.
Option 1) Bio-diesel. This fuel comes from plants, which collect their carbon from atmospheric CO2. Thus, all of the CO and CO2 that bio-diesel releases came from the atmosphere when the plants grew - it's a net zero impact process.
Option 2) Synthetic gasoline. As with bio-diesel, synthetic gasoline uses plant sources (green ethanol) combined with atmospheric gasses to create a net-zero fuel. It's a proven process that will work with the entire existing automotive fleet, and requires no modifications to cars that currently use street gas as fuel. Production is just now starting up for commercial quantities, and Formula One has mandated the use of this fuel starting in 2026. Work is underway to prove it our for airplanes, too.
IRVING, Texas/ STUTTGART, Germany – ExxonMobil and Porsche are testing advanced biofuels and renewable, lower-carbon eFuels, as part of a new agreement to find pathways toward potential future consumer adoption.
corporate.exxonmobil.com
Moving stories and inspiring interviews. Experience the meaning of "invented for life" by Bosch completely new. Visit our international website.
www.bosch.com
Weaning our economy off liquid fuels could be impossible, so can we make them without the carbon emissions? Rachel Brazil surveys the scene
www.chemistryworld.com
By 2030, it is anticipated there will be close to two billion cars on the road, with only 8% of those pure Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVS). That means other solutions are needed to slash carbon emissions.
www.formula1.com
Both of these are better options for long-distance transportation than EVs. EVs are still a good fit for urban commuting, but they're only part of the solution set.