• @dogs0n@sh.itjust.works
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    47 days ago

    That’s why if you put several electric cars connected in a row, place them on tracks, externalize the power source, and you get the most efficient way of travelling - trains.

    Sounds right when said like that, but I think very important factors are missing in that comparison. Maily: energy used per person & space used per person.

    Most cars on the road are only transporting one person (the driver), which leaves a lot of wasted space. Trains on the other hand can carry way more people than cars can when using the space amount of space.

    I don’t know energy used per passenger but it’s certainly less for train vs car (when both running on renewable energy).

    Apparently (I think C02 emissions should give us the same idea if we assume both use clean energy): Eurostar: 6g CO2e per passenger km Electric Car: 53g (one passenger) CO2e per passenger km (or 13g with 4 passengers)

    Don’t think a lot of trains are as clean as the eurostar worldwide but it’s possible to be that clean.

    Theres many more benefits to trains too such as: You don’t have to drive (browse lemmy while travelling), cheaper, 20x safer, a good train system can save you time, less waste (when your car eventually is scrapped, I’m sure a lot if recycled, but must still be a lot of waste, including energy spent recycling). Probably a lot of other stuff too.

    p.s. sorry if i am wrong about stuff im trying to be right ;()

      • @freebee@sh.itjust.works
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        37 days ago

        Renewable energy also requires mining, processing, production, waste management… It’s still a waste to use energy as if it is free, it never is and never can be, all energy usage has a footprint on the planet.

      • @jol@discuss.tchncs.de
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        87 days ago

        Because the grid is not 100% renewable, and even renewables have some carbon cost. That line of thought is what crypto bros and AI idiots often use to justify wasting energy. It’s always better to reduce our energy consumption.