[Scape]

[DrCaleb]

Billions of crabs went missing around Alaska. Scientists now know what happened to them

[DrCaleb]

[DrCaleb]

Carbon capture pipeline nixed after widespread opposition

[DrCaleb]

NIMBYism.

[herbie]

Carbon capture... sweeping it under the rug will solve our problems...

[DrCaleb]

Not dumping it in the atmosphere isn't the best solution, but it's better than what we are doing now.

[DrCaleb]

Rapid ice melt in west Antarctica now inevitable, research shows

[DrCaleb]

Nestle, Volvo among 130 companies urging COP28 agreement to ditch fossil fuels

[DrCaleb]

Lexus gives us a peek at its all-battery future with two new concepts

$1:

Welcome to 2026 and the future of Lexus as an all-electric brand.

[Caelon]

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

Lexus gives us a peek at its all-battery future with two new concepts

$1:

Welcome to 2026 and the future of Lexus as an all-electric brand.

Toyota's stance is that all electric is not in the best interest of the planet. (Lexus is a division of Toyota aimed at the upper middle class) The limited supply of lithium means going all electric will generate shortages and escalating prices. We can have a bigger impact by using the limited supply of lithium to produce more hybrids to reduce fossil fuel consumption. Toyota is putting more research into hydrogen powered vehicles as an alternative to EVs. Fuelling is less than 2 minutes compared to the long charge times for an EV. The exhaust is water. Plus there is not the toxic battery disposal problem when the 10 year lifespan of the battery means you need to dispose of the vehicle or buy a new battery for $20,000.

The lower middle class cannot afford to buy expensive EVs, but they can buy a hybrid or a used a hybrid. Currently the lower half of the economic strata can afford ICE vehicles as an option. So by pulling back from pure EVs we can have a bigger impact on the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere.

[DrCaleb]

Caelon Caelon:

The limited supply of lithium means going all electric will generate shortages and escalating prices. We can have a bigger impact by using the limited supply of lithium to produce more hybrids to reduce fossil fuel consumption.

Lithium is but one metal that can be used in rechargeable batteries, and it isn't even the best one.

There is a lot of development on storage, and even Tesla is moving to a Lithium Iron Phosphate construction, and NASA has been using a Sulphur Selenium chemistry for decades. There are chemical batteries, and kinetic batteries, and gravity batteries . . . and as you say, hydrogen.

Saying we shouldn't do something because of current technology precludes the cleverness that we humans have shown over thousands of years. We will find alternative storage methods, even if we have to use compressed air and water towers to store solar energy.

There are so many videos in the last months that I haven't posted here, but believe me when I say lithium availability is the smallest problem the climate is facing right now. We have to do a little of everything we know in order to make the changes that are needed quickly.

[herbie]

Toyota is playing the turtle's game rolling out vehicles when ready, as they always have. Hybrids they've nailed. BEVs a bit at a time, as well as fuel cells and even hydrogen ICE testing.
VS the stupid instant gratification of the Big 3.
We have to make EVs by law. Pickups are selling and profitable.. Let's make a huge BEV pickup like the Lightning and the Hummer that cost so much no one buys them and "prove" electrification is no good

You're also forgetting the Lithium discovery in the Western USA which appears to be the largest deposit in the world.

[DrCaleb]

Also, none of the automakers are funding development of ICE's, and all of them are planning on fully EV models.

[Caelon]

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

Also, none of the automakers are funding development of ICE's, and all of them are planning on fully EV models.

This is a government mandated target that is pushing a single solution in a relatively short time frame. As you pointed out there are multiple choices. Perhaps a better option is to mandate a total fleet carbon output and then let the research and economics drive the alternatives.

I am still concerned that the current path caters to the wealthy and ignores the lower economic strata. The average income per family is $68,000 per year in Canada. That is half the population making less. Over 10% of the population is considered low income. Or less than $25K for and individual of less than $50K for a family of 4. A family of 4 with less than $70,000 of income is not buying a $60K+ PHEV or an even more expensive EV. They are looking at vehicles in the low $30's or even cheaper. Relatively low cost used vehicles are a popular choice. Currently that is an ICE vehicle.

EV sales are climbing, but only the more well to do can afford them. It is a small percentage of total sales. If we want to make a bigger impact then we need to target solutions that are viable for over 50% of the population. Short term goals can be improved fuel efficiency on fleet sales (not model choices). This provides a more immediate benefit while we work towards the longer term solution.