New Science Says Scrapping a Working Gas Car for an EV Is Usually Greener

cleantechnica.com

9 pointsxbmcuser2 comments

The argument that you shouldn't buy an EV because it's not greener (as seen on Adam Ruins Everything [1]) has always struck me as ridiculous. It's not like your old car just disappears into the ether. Someone else will buy it after you trade it in and use it. It's not like it just goes to waste.

The argument is economically illiterate also. Buying an electric car is a strong signal that there's demand for them. New cars are going to keep being made no matter what. The difference is which kind of cars we will make, and if there's a strong demand signal then more electric cars will be made.

[1] https://youtu.be/MQLbakWESkw

I always thought the argument was that "continuing to drive the cars we have is better than building new cars even if the new cars are EVs". Which, even if true, doesn't sound particularly helpful or useful because very few people had the financial ability to replace their IC car early just because it isn't an EV (which has historically been far more expensive).

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