Baffling and bizarre D
avid Cooper: “I noticed that you stuck up for the Russian empire in today’s paper.”
I wrote, “While I condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, I cannot ignore the hypocritical media coverage of the American-led NATO military alliance.” So that’s a defense of Russia?
Cooper: “Someone told me they think you’re a Lennonist. Is that true?”
It’s not true. Perhaps your question should have been directed toward Mitchell Seyfer.
Jim Gardner: “EV owners have to get their charge somewhere ... Since 40% of US electricity is generated by coal, could electric cars be partially coal-powered?”
Yes, they are. However, an EV is five times more efficient than gasoline-powered vehicles. Therefore, even when coal-generated power is employed during their lifecycles, greenhouse gas emissions are greatly lessened vis-a-vis EVs.
Nonetheless, solar-generated electricity, particularly rooftop solar-generated electricity, needs to be how EVs are powered.
The US needs to embark upon a Manhattan Project-like effort to place solar panels on every rooftop. But that isn’t likely to occur under capitalism, where the narrow self-interests of oil capitalists reign supreme.
Per EV batteries containing rare earth elements that are irresponsibly sourced, toxic, and problematic regarding disposal, the technology is new and has, unsurprisingly, received little R&D monies from the capitalist state. Still, Tesla has already essentially eliminated the use of cobalt, as have Panasonic and Samsung.
So, just as ozone layer-destroying chlorofluorocarbons have been virtually eliminated as propellants, so, too, are rare earth minerals being displaced as battery components.
Lastly, as someone who enjoys the enormous economic benefit of charging EV batteries via a rooftop solar system, the illogical opposition to such technology is beyond baffling, as seen in letters penned by Jim Gardner, Steve Brewer, and others. It stands as some incredibly bizarre capitalist culture-induced Stockholm Syndrome from whence they should escape.
Guy Marsh
Lancaster