Not only will this not make a dent in the broader climate problem, this is a direct tax on the poor and forced transfer of money to green business like Musk's. I wonder if California is trying to convince Musk to keep Tesla in town.
In any event, California also already cannot keep up with its electricity demands. Onboarding more renewables with batteries is not the solution, especially as California's car market will drastically increase demand for battery production.
There are so many layers to why this is stupid.
- Battery production is already a highly polluting operation. The mining needed to put the batteries together is not going to get easier or cleaner as the demand for batteries is artificially exponentially increased via California mandate.
- How are you going to produce enough power for all these electric cars? Solar and wind aren't going to cut it, and they need to be supported by large battery or backup generation infrastructure. The batteries won't be available in large enough capacity. The backup generation is - wait for it - powered by gas, and less efficient for transportation than directly burning gas in the car's engine.
- I'm predicting many individuals purchase gas generators as backups for their home, given how inconsistent power availability will be in California.
- All these inconveniences will be absorbed by wealthy folks, like many of the commenters here, who pat themselves on the back for their virtuous actions. All the while callously creating ever greater burdens on the lower and middle class.
> this is a direct tax on the poor and forced transfer of money to green business like Musk's
Poor people aren't buying new cars. They're buying 10 year old cars that can still run on gas, be hybrids, or be electric. The same situation as now.
> - Battery production is already a highly polluting operation.
So is gas, "both ways". EG: exploration, drilling, refining, shipment, and actually burning it. Not to mention spills. This is a straw man.
> - I'm predicting many individuals buy gas generators as backups for their home, given how inconsistent power availability will be in California.
This is a PG&E problem.
Don't hate progress, dude. New cars must not pollute in 15 years time. You could raise a kid to have a better understanding of the environment than a lot of people in that same time. This is a long time.
In any event, California also already cannot keep up with its electricity demands. Onboarding more renewables with batteries is not the solution, especially as California's car market will drastically increase demand for battery production.
There are so many layers to why this is stupid.
- Battery production is already a highly polluting operation. The mining needed to put the batteries together is not going to get easier or cleaner as the demand for batteries is artificially exponentially increased via California mandate.
- How are you going to produce enough power for all these electric cars? Solar and wind aren't going to cut it, and they need to be supported by large battery or backup generation infrastructure. The batteries won't be available in large enough capacity. The backup generation is - wait for it - powered by gas, and less efficient for transportation than directly burning gas in the car's engine.
- I'm predicting many individuals purchase gas generators as backups for their home, given how inconsistent power availability will be in California.
- All these inconveniences will be absorbed by wealthy folks, like many of the commenters here, who pat themselves on the back for their virtuous actions. All the while callously creating ever greater burdens on the lower and middle class.