EVs not going to save the planet but please try not to rely on fossil fuels

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › EVs not going to save the planet but please try not to rely on fossil fuels

Batman

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#324258 19-Mar-2026 13:40

hopefully countries and people will learn not to rely on the fickle supply of dinosaur juice.

i have a few EVs, i do not think EVs will save the planet any more than Donald blowing up gas fields will persuade Iran.

and why EVs not going to going save the planet? well you can read CNN and tell me why not.

anyway, people got to stop this climate change believers vs climate change denier business - just collectively live smart and not rely on fossil fuels and while the big guns try to destroy it regardless whether you drive an EV or not

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Smpl Mnmlst
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#3471692 19-Mar-2026 14:03

@Batman “and why EVs not going to going save the planet? well you can read CNN and tell me why not.”

That’s not particularly helpful - why don’t you just tell us why not.

And why should we believe CNN over all of the other biased commentators out there?

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MikeAqua

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#3471703 19-Mar-2026 14:29

Put simply ... EVs (like heat pumps) are a demand side solution that don't address how energy is generated.

EVs don't stop electricity produced by burning fossil fuels. Sure, burning fuel in a well-managed power plant emits less GHG 'well-to-wheel' than burning it in a car, but that's not enough. We need low emission production of energy - nuclear, hydro, wind, solar and geo (gas reinjected).

EVs don't stop industrial/residential heat being produced by burning fossil fuels. We need to convert those-systems to electrical (where feasible).

EVs won't help with all our transport issues, especially maritime transport. They are a part of the solution for shorter and/or light payload transport, and that's a lot. But ... we need substitution with electric rail where feasible. For long range bulk shipping we may need to look at ammonia, green hydrogen or small scale nuclear. Companies like Lloyds have white papers on this now.

Aviation ... electrical power looks like it will be niche at best at the moment. Maybe bio-fuel?

Mike

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#3471710 19-Mar-2026 14:53

eracode:

@Batman “and why EVs not going to going save the planet? well you can read CNN and tell me why not.”

That’s not particularly helpful - why don’t you tell us why not.

And why should we believe CNN over all of the other biased commentators out there?

how many miles of EV do i need to drive to offset one bomb?

eracode

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#3471726 19-Mar-2026 15:18

Batman:

eracode:

@Batman “and why EVs not going to going save the planet? well you can read CNN and tell me why not.”

That’s not particularly helpful - why don’t you tell us why not.

And why should we believe CNN over all of the other biased commentators out there?

how many miles of EV do i need to drive to offset one bomb?

What are CNN’s thoughts on that?

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

muppet

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#3471734 19-Mar-2026 15:48

I am confused as to why you are linking an Entry Visa to fossil fuels aka "ex-dinosaur" juices.

If you have "a few EVs" as you boldly claim, all that means you have legal jurisdiction to enter specific countries for set periods of time.

I've got several EVs myself for travelling and none of 'em require electricity or petrol to function. They're just digital records in my passport. Having an entry visa has no impact on climate change or the planet, plus it's impossible to drive a travel document.

You should check your passport, because an entry visa is only for getting through customs and none of the things you've mentioned.

jarledb

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#3471739 19-Mar-2026 15:57

muppet:

I am confused as to why you are linking an Entry Visa to fossil fuels aka "ex-dinosaur" juices.

The OP posted in "Transport (cars, bikes and boats)", don't be a muppet - you know what he meant.

BTW: OP is wrong.

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Obraik

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#3471740 19-Mar-2026 16:05

EVs might not save the world, but they would keep NZ moving while there is conflict in the world. Most times of the year, our electricity grid is operating at around 85%+ renewable generation (at the time of this reply, it's 91%) and if our gentailers would build to keep us ahead of demand, we could keep that 24/7 365 days a year.

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MikeAqua

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#3471744 19-Mar-2026 16:21

Obraik:

EVs might not save the world, but they would keep NZ moving while there is conflict in the world. Most times of the year, our electricity grid is operating at around 85%+ renewable generation (at the time of this reply, it's 91%) and if our gentailers would build to keep us ahead of demand, we could keep that 24/7 365 days a year.

They would keep people commuting and picking up the kids from school and couriers making deliveries. They won't keep food being grown and transported between regions. They won't even keep the power lines or roads maintained. Those things all use diesel vehicles.

Mike

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#3471747 19-Mar-2026 16:33

MikeAqua:

They would keep people commuting and picking up the kids from school and couriers making deliveries. They won't keep food being grown and transported between regions. They won't even keep the power lines or roads maintained. Those things all use diesel vehicles.

Of course they could. For this oil crisis right now? No, but we could learn from this crisis and start planning for the future ones.

Trains can (and often are) electric and would be the best option for getting freight between regions. Outside of trains, there are also plenty of heavy trucks that are capable of exceeding NZ's max driving time for a commercial driver. For farming, electric tractors are still in their infancy but there's no reason they can't or won't exist.

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eracode

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#3471798 19-Mar-2026 16:48

MikeAqua:

Put simply ... EVs (like heat pumps) are a demand side solution that don't address how energy is generated.

…..

Thanks - and I think most of us are actually well aware of all that.

My point was more about the OP's strange approach to this - eg. requiring readers to hunt around on CNN to find out what his reasons are.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

muppet

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#3471799 19-Mar-2026 16:50

jarledb:

don't be a muppet - you know what he meant.

Of course I did. I thought we were just posting stupid inflammatory stuff as that's what every post before mine had been. I was just joining in!

jarledb:

BTW: OP is wrong.

See? Like this!

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eracode

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#3471800 19-Mar-2026 16:52

jarledb:

muppet:

I am confused as to why you are linking an Entry Visa to fossil fuels aka "ex-dinosaur" juices.

The OP posted in "Transport (cars, bikes and boats)", don't be a muppet - you know what he meant.

I’m sure it was just tongue in cheek.

But … muppet is as muppet does. 😀

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Rickles

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#3471801 19-Mar-2026 16:54

On a personal note, about 18 months I bought a hybrid, getting rid of my Jeep that was nigh on 27 years old and had from new. That was great for carrying rubbish to landfill, ferrying kids about, and a very safe ski wagon for many decades ... albeit a 6 cylinder straight-six that needed its own refueling tanker following. To be fair, the open road consumption was far better than around town, but remember I got it new back in 1997 ($1.60 - $1.90 per litre that decade).

The new car drives like a sports car, and at least 60% cheaper to run than the Jeep ... and can beat a Ferrari or Porsche off the line at traffic lights 😁

Recent trip to Wgton to Taupo and return cost just under $50 in petrol.

Should help 'the planet'?

eracode

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#3471805 19-Mar-2026 17:05

Rickles:

Recent trip to Wgton to Taupo and return cost just under $50 in petrol.

What about pre- and during-trip charging costs?

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

Rickles

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#3471810 19-Mar-2026 17:49

>What about pre- and during-trip charging costs?<

Nil ! It's an MG3 Hybrid+

The ICE engine is simply an electrical charger to top up the battery. The engine can also drive the vehicle in tandem with the electric motor, but that only kicks in at higher speeds or violent accelerator use, (and nearly got me a speeding ticket at about 140kph).

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