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Comment by woodruffw | Hacker News Reader

I think the opposite choice would be not purchasing a car at all? I've managed to live without one so far.

Or squeezing an extra 100K miles out of a vehicle that was headed for the scrapper.

Right. I think the environmental argument for EVs rings pretty hollow until we've exhausted the world's extremely large supply of used cars (and built commuter rail just about everywhere even marginally economical; the US circa 1920 would be a good reference point).

If there was a gross over abundance of used cars, they would be extremely cheap. They aren't cheap.

Shifting new sales from gas to EV is also likely to be more effective than wishing for more transit.

It’s not that simple: the economics of used cars are tied to export patterns and to cultural norms. In other words: used cars aren’t (relatively) expensive because they’re actually scarce goods; they’re relatively expensive because Americans generally like buying new cars and therefore don’t support a larger used car market.

Besides, it’s a relative comparison: a used older car is still going to be cheaper. We’re talking about Teslas, which are luxury sport vehicles.

My observation is about the dynamics of the used car market (reliable cars that are out of warranty still command relatively high prices), it's not a comparison to the cost of new, high end electric vehicles.

My point was that the firm prices in the used market actually reflect demand for those cars and they aren't just tragically going to waste, a counter to your disgust at our supposed refusal to use them up. If they are getting exported and used up, that still prevents them from being available cheaply here.

> it's not a comparison to the cost of new, high end electric vehicles.

Sure, but the point of this entire thread is making this comparison.

There are some people who can make that choice, and that's preferable. But not everyone can do that. And to leave a single EV unused, just because we hate a single man, is unconscionable for anyone who believes the world actually hangs in the balance.

As others have pointed out, you could buy a different EV. The market appears to have many options.

But also, I simply don't buy the environmental argument here. I'm pretty sure buying a used Toyota Camry and driving it into the ground is better, on net, for the planet than buying a brand new EV.

Not sure about that. Use emissions is the majority

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/life-cycle-emissions-evs-vs...

Yes, for equivalent cars purchased new. The point was that a 10 year old used sedan than you drive for another 10 years will still produce fewer tailpipe emissions than a new EV's manufacture.

You do know there are other EV manufacturers, right? Tesla can go bankrupt today, and supply will not be all that worse.

I don't agree that it's unconscionable. To me, supporting a man like Musk who actively promote climate change denial is the worse option.

Teslas are sports cars.

mr musk has been instrumental in preventing this option from developing unfortuantely. his "hyperloop" and "boring company" are ploys to distract people and delay the development of high speed rail

I think high speed rail is perfectly capable of finding delays all on its own, and doesn't need this supposed help

tell that to China

You mean the China where nobody has a voice and the government is allowed to do whatever they feel like whenever they feel like to whomever they feel like? The same China where property rights don't exist so there's no need for eminent domain. The same China that, oh nevermind

How about Japan, then?

Good grief. Fine. USofA development of high speed rail does not need any help on finding ways to not get made. </facepalmForPedants>

this sounds like sore loser, and honestly, highly propagandized, talk to me. as far as i can tell, China is more democratic

Clearly you and I have different understandings of democratic to the point I bid you good day

do you even know anything about China or Chinese history???

I know LGBT identity is criminalized there. As much as Trump would love to do that in the US, it hasn't happened yet.

Also, we're allowed to make fun of the president of the United States, whereas Xi throws a little pissy tantrum if anyone compares him to Winnie the Pooh.

Finally, uh... do you really think no one here knows about the Great Firewall? Yes, I know you can get around it with a VPN, but you shouldn't have to.

You're right; Republicans were killing high-speed rail long before Elon awkwardly gestured his way into politics.

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