Meanwhile in Germany:
this post was submitted on 25 Oct 2023
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Does this include vehicles? ๐
Why would electrical grid power production include vehicles?
True that the specific metric by definition excludes any use of fossil fuels that doesn't have an electricity step (ICE cars, gas for heating/cooking/water heating).
However it is a relevant question to consider, to the extent those non-electricity applications remain an obstacle for reducing greenhouse emissions. An ICE car being replaced by an EV means more grid load, a Gas furnace being replaced with a heat pump means more grid load.
As an example, in my region they are talking about increased load incurred in part from EVSE and heat pump conversions. To meet that demand, a part of the plan is actually building out even more natural gas electricity generation (alongside energy storage, solar, and wind).
While it's encouraging to see grids fairly claim reduction in carbon emissions (others have raised questions about whether this is a totally fair claim, but I have no idea), the total consumption picture is important to keep in mind.
Why wouldn't it?
Because this is about grid power production...vehicles generally have nothing to do with the production of electricity for the grid.
It could, if cheap, light, efficient EVs become legal and popular in Europe.
I personally want something that would never be legal; A 4-wheeled, beefed up, 100+ km/h electric velomobile with something like CanAm Spyder tires (and track width) and a proper comfortable seat. A bit like the LCC rocket, but fully enclosed and possibly lighter.
I could get something more dangerous, like a motorcycle. While this would be in an illegal limbo between car and motorcycle.
The Renault Twizy is a too tall, simply ugly, and thoroughly nerfed version of a simile of what I wish for, and Europe will continue just vaguely trying (and complacently falling) to make speed-limited microcars for cities of type L6e and L7e the "green option" looking for adoption, but that will never reach any kind of tipping point and we all know it. Not quite designed to fail, but definitely not designed for mass adoption.
The legal limbo of what I think would be more appealing is due to both the public and the governing bodies being entirely unwilling to tolerate what safety-wise amounts to a motorcycle with a car's stability, without reducing speed. They'd never expect to successfully lock motorcycles down to "max 45 km/h", but the category of "motorcycle" is uniquely privileged as a traditionally recognized transport device permitted to trade away safety for other benefits. Presumably because the trade is explicit enough, as there's no mistaking it for a car.
Anyways...
The conclusion is that no, "it" doesn't include vehicles, and won't any time soon. The only desirable electric cars will remain massive and heavy and expensive (but thoroughly armored), so adoption will continue to be fairly slow, and they'll be a big drain on the grid.
I'll end on the note that motorcycles not being popular is a huge part of why western bureaucrats (barely) tolerate them. If this was to become popular among young guys who want a cheap fast car, it'd be extremely problematic for them, and not at all worth the accelerated energy transition.
Last note, Sierra Echo is also one I've been keeping my eye on, but since it's fast and light, it's also open-air like all these things apparently have to be. Oh, and it's also not cheap.
Here is an alternative Piped link(s):
Sierra Echo
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