Unpopular opinion: trains are not technically environmentally sustainable, but they are so much more efficient than cars & even buses that they might as well be.
Car dependency is always bad, m’kay, but environmentally speaking, and only in regard to the emissions, electric cars depends on the source.
However, even if it’s charged using electricity from a pure coal plant it’s still much more efficient than combustion engines in using the energy, so absolutely consider electric cars whenever you need a new car. The biggest consideration is still if you need a car at all. Busses and trains are still better than electric cars.
I drive electric and it’s 100% from wind energy. That is absolutely not an option for everyone. Personally I’d prefer public transport, but that is also not an option for everyone and not in my case. In my case, the EV is best option that enables my transport needs, so it’s as good as it gets.
It also has the added benefit of being a whole lot of fun to drive. I’ll never go back to fossil fuel for that reason alone.
You absolutely need to try it out when you’re browsing for cars. I thought I’d be missing the roaring and brutal gear shifting, but I was convinced of the superiorty of driving electric before even leaving the parking lot of the car sales. It’s just a pleasure. But like I said, that’s just a benefit. The real reason why I chose to buy electric is the cost and ease. Yes, they cost more up front, but it’ll come back in savings before this car is done with, and I never have to stand holding a nozzle in the cold at a gas station and paying for that experience ever again.
Train lines are not as wide, dangerous, or consistently loud so I’d argue they are better than highways and less dividing so long as infrastructure is built and maintained to allow access to both sides at reasonable intervals.
![[meme] Sustainable modes of transit](https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/bd9a7980-756e-4ce8-b8f2-7c51d75ac763.webp){kind=link}
Unpopular opinion: trains are not technically environmentally sustainable, but they are so much more efficient than cars & even buses that they might as well be.
Those are electrical trains, so it depends on the power source.
Soooo…electric cars good now?
Car dependency is always bad, m’kay, but environmentally speaking, and only in regard to the emissions, electric cars depends on the source.
However, even if it’s charged using electricity from a pure coal plant it’s still much more efficient than combustion engines in using the energy, so absolutely consider electric cars whenever you need a new car. The biggest consideration is still if you need a car at all. Busses and trains are still better than electric cars.
I drive electric and it’s 100% from wind energy. That is absolutely not an option for everyone. Personally I’d prefer public transport, but that is also not an option for everyone and not in my case. In my case, the EV is best option that enables my transport needs, so it’s as good as it gets. It also has the added benefit of being a whole lot of fun to drive. I’ll never go back to fossil fuel for that reason alone.
You absolutely need to try it out when you’re browsing for cars. I thought I’d be missing the roaring and brutal gear shifting, but I was convinced of the superiorty of driving electric before even leaving the parking lot of the car sales. It’s just a pleasure. But like I said, that’s just a benefit. The real reason why I chose to buy electric is the cost and ease. Yes, they cost more up front, but it’ll come back in savings before this car is done with, and I never have to stand holding a nozzle in the cold at a gas station and paying for that experience ever again.
Trains don’t have tires
Ground level train lines also segregate cities in the same way that ground level highways do.
Train lines are not as wide, dangerous, or consistently loud so I’d argue they are better than highways and less dividing so long as infrastructure is built and maintained to allow access to both sides at reasonable intervals.