Globally, only one in 50 new cars were fully electric in 2020, and one in 14 in the UK. Sounds impressive, but even if all new cars were electric now, it would still take 15-20 years to replace the world’s fossil fuel car fleet.

The emission savings from replacing all those internal combustion engines with zero-carbon alternatives will not feed in fast enough to make the necessary difference in the time we can spare: the next five years. Tackling the climate and air pollution crises requires curbing all motorised transport, particularly private cars, as quickly as possible. Focusing solely on electric vehicles is slowing down the race to zero emissions.

  • capital@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    0
    ·
    11 months ago

    I don’t doubt this at all.

    But it’s going to be 10 degreees Fahrenheit on my way to work tomorrow.

    Public transit that doesn’t double my commute time is what’s going to get me to stop driving. Not a bike.

      • Rodeo@lemmy.ca
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        0
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        11 months ago

        Cool, what about those who don’t live within biking distance?

        My work is 37 km of rural highway from my house. I biked it once years ago, took me 1h45m one way. Not a reasonable option.

        • Bahalex@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          11 months ago

          Cool. What about all those people who live within 5km of where they need to go, and are generally alone in the car.

          Just because it doesn’t apply to you in particular doesn’t mean you can’t support and champion a cause that would help in the grand scheme of things.

          • Rodeo@lemmy.ca
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            0
            arrow-down
            1
            ·
            11 months ago

            The comment I replied to implied that if people in Montreal can do it, why can’t I? I was merely addressing the implied accusation.

            Besides, if you want a champion the guy making $40k/year isn’t it.

            The billionaires got a lot of money to spend on transit and infrastructure and densification, but everytime this shit comes up somehow the guy who barely clears the fuckin poverty line is the one who has be a champion.

  • jaschen@lemmynsfw.com
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    0
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    11 months ago

    Cycling is not the solution. It’s infrastructure.

    I would love a walkable city. But I can’t afford housing close to the city. The bus or train system isn’t strong enough or convenient enough. Our country are set up for cars. Housing prices are set up for people to drive further to live.

    Have affordable housing near the places I work and I won’t need to drive. Stop blaming people for living their lives around a broken infrastructure. Stop cramming bicycles down our throats. We are not the problem.