Japan to stop making gas powered automobile?

[john peck]

That appeared in a Bing headline today. Apparently Japan has taken a serious stand on climate change....or are they
getting nervous about declining sales? Ya think other countries will follow suit?

 

[Art Deco]

Sure, the EU and Uk are also going electric. Even GM is pushing into EVs. They make three or four new and different models, but they only sell them in China so far, IIRC.

 

[john peck]

Seems the real question is, will they be anymore affordable than the cars they cant sell right now? I doubt it. Rush hour may have
less fumes, but will that make gridlock go away? I doubt it.

 

[Coolbob]

In 2016 Norway proposed banning petrol powered cars by 2025, other European countries have joined in since then. https://www.roadtraffic-technology.com/features/european-countries-banning-fossil-fuel-cars/

Electric vehicle skeptics will say that electric vehicles nearly shift polution from the tailpipe to the electric plant, true, but overall emissions are still lower with electric vehicles. https://www.forbes.com/sites/energy...soline-everywhere-in-america/?sh=6f26236171f8

As the EV technology improves, range increases and charging stations become more and more common, electric vehicles are going to look more and more attractive. We have two relatively new conventional vehicles in our household so we don't plan to buy a new vehicle for several years. When we do shop for a new vehicle, we will most likely choose an electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid.

 

[john peck]

In 2016 Norway proposed banning petrol powered cars by 2025, other European countries have joined in since then. https://www.roadtraffic-technology.com/features/european-countries-banning-fossil-fuel-cars/

Electric vehicle skeptics will say that electric vehicles nearly shift polution from the tailpipe to the electric plant, true, but overall emissions are still lower with electric vehicles. https://www.forbes.com/sites/energy...soline-everywhere-in-america/?sh=6f26236171f8

As the EV technology improves, range increases and charging stations become more and more common, electric vehicles are going to look more and more attractive. We have two relatively new conventional vehicles in our household so we don't plan to buy a new vehicle for several years. When we do shop for a new vehicle, we will most likely choose an electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid.

Yes, EVs initially have a pretty large carbon footprint, but electric motors, with one moving part, don´t wear out as quickly. even with a geared hub.
they a far simpler & less expensive to repair. The heater motor in my place has run since 1970 without any maintenance. I have a grinder from the
50s. the capaciter that starts it died, but i just give the wheel a spin & it takes off like new. I still favor smaller, lighter, slower, cheaper vehicles for
personal transport, keeping maybe one large one used sparingly for hauling larger loads.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

I'll bet that nobody will be making them, or buying them (IC cars), much sooner then you think.

And not because of climate change, but because EVs cost less to operate and likely will cost much less to make in the near future.

Transitions seem to be slow and gradual until they aren't.

 

[john peck]

I think it´s a viable concept more affordable to younger buyers. Perhaps a small trailer for bulk shopping or travel? Sadly,
It faces road blocks to import them to the US, duty & safety regs. Even if they were to be made here theyĺl meet a lot of establishment
resistance.

 

[Art Deco]

Establishment resistance is a big part of why GM is selling EVs only overseas . Don't want to canabalize(?) sales of Suburbans and such here in the USA. And they think China needs lots of new cars, while we already have lots of late model cars and trucks available here. Also the Chinese middle class is growing, while ours is shrinking. Etc. Marketing and social issues, not technical issues.

 

[john peck]

Establishment resistance is a big part of why GM is selling EVs only overseas . Don't want to canabalize(?) sales of Suburbans and such here in the USA. And they think China needs lots of new cars, while we already have lots of late model cars and trucks available here. Also the Chinese middle class is growing, while ours is shrinking. Etc. Marketing and social issues, not technical issues.

GM? Don furgit our pals, big oil.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

GM? Don furgit our pals, big oil.

 

[john peck]

I´m sure that´s the perfect fit for everyone´s budget these days. Iĺl be rushing down to the lot to get one fur shur.
Can GM really be this clueless?

 

[john peck]

The "personal transport" is already happening in Japan since several years ago.

However, not in the US, we love big V8 powered SUVs, not small personal transportation like Japan and Europe, where roadways are much smaller and gas prices are prohibitively expensive (especially in Europe, it's something like $5.50 to $5.80 / gallon)

Funny, an autonimous delivery vehicle that looks much like those above was just posted on New Atlas, cleared for use. I guess not
having a driver must be safer?

 

[Asher]

Seems the real question is, will they be anymore affordable than the cars they cant sell right now? I doubt it. Rush hour may have
less fumes, but will that make gridlock go away? I doubt it.

Fumes actually may not decline much, because most fumes are not from exhaust, and this pattern is strengthening.

Pollution improvements will require government to mandate standards for cleaner tires, incentives for smaller cars, and perhaps even a magnetic tire hubcap for buses that catches tire/brake debris.

World’s first device to capture harmful tyre particles invented by students | Imperial News | Imperial College London

TREAD CAREFULLY - A group of Imperial students have invented a device to collect tyre particles from vehicles, a major contributor to the world’s air pollution.

www.google.com

Non-exhaust Particulate Emissions from Road Transport: An Ignored Environmental Policy Challenge | en | OECD | OCDE

Non-exhaust emissions of particulate matter constitute a little-known but rising share of emissions from road traffic and have significant negative impacts on public health. This report synthesizes the current state of knowledge about the nature,...

www.oecd.org

 

[Asher]

We all know that legislation is not keeping us with EVs and personal transportation vehicles in the US and Canada.

Unlike in Asia and Europe, here's what the current regulation says:

SAFE
Approved for road use

NOT SAFE
NOT approved for road use

What's your proof that trikes are not allowed?

In CA, for one, you don't need any kind of vehicle inspection or manufacturer permit for 30 mph 2-3 wheelers with 4hp and electric power. That's how Genze sold it's emoped.

The main problem with motorcycles is bicycle level exposure at highway speeds. When you have lots of people living in a city where things are close, you can crank down the speed, regain all that space sacrificed to parking and wide streets, and massively reduce transport pollution, costs and carnage. A covered three or four wheeler is a kludge solution for when you're too cowardly to bring down speed limits in the city where high speeds dont do much to reduce travel times. Helsinki has pioneered this and many other cities now have 20-30 mph limits citywide.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

I´m sure that´s the perfect fit for everyone´s budget these days. Iĺl be rushing down to the lot to get one fur shur.
Can GM really be this clueless?

Obviously they need to come down in price, but still GM sold out of them on pre-orders in literally minutes. So again, obviously, there is demand.

 

[john peck]

The CEO of Toyota already predicted that there will be a mass shortage of electricity, not fossil fuel.
As this chart indicates, passenger travel is a huge portion of oil company's revenue, but people will be switching to EV, fast.

The CEO of Toyota also predicted that infrastructure won't be able to keep up with the sudden increase of demand in electricity.
Maybe oil company can invest in clean energy like solar energy and wind energy?

Are we still gonna have internal combustion engine in... 20 years? or even 10 years?
Even commercial vehicles like semi-trailers are going EV and autopilot.

How we can end our addiction to oil

It’s time we moved on to something else, or this is going to kill us. Not only are world oil supplies running out, but what oil is still left is proving very dirty to obtain. We need to kick our oil addiction now if we expect to preserve any hopes of economic prosperity, or unspoiled […]

grist.org

Oil may become too valuable a resource to simply burn. The chart is missing a huge wedge for U.S. military consumption!!!

 

[john peck]

Oil may become too valuable a resource to simply burn. The chart above is missing a huge wedge for U.S. military consumption!!!

 

[john peck]

Obviously they need to come down in price, but still GM sold out of them on pre-orders in literally minutes. So again, obviously, there is demand.

Affluent preppers no doubt. Still just a car with an open trunk. You couldn´t get a whole sheet of plywood back there.

 

[Art Deco]

You can't get a 4 x 8 sheet flat in many "king cab" pickups either. Most people don't seem to care.

 

[john peck]

You can't get a 4 x 8 sheet flat in many "king cab" pickups either. Most people don't seem to care.

I can see a ´king cab´ if you carry a crew, but they´re not good for much but passengers & some tools.