I can't say for certain whether renewable energy will be a sustainable solution or not. However, I am ver suspicious of anyone who touts all the upsides without seemingly to understand any of the downsides.
If we move to electric vehicles we will about double our electricity consumption. Are we ready for that? Electricity is the epitome of hand-to-mouth or just-in-time production. Just producing the right amout of electricity averaged over any period is not proof that it will work. Imagine getting 365 breakfasts, lunches and teas on Jan 1st and no more food for the rest of the year. The average works out well but you could still be starving after January.
Consequently, we need to be able to store huge quantities of electricity. Mining for the chemicals to make batteries, electric motors and generators is not a zero pollution undertaking. For instance, see: Rare-earth mining in China comes at a heavy cost for local villages
Infrastructure (charging stations, battery plants, battery components/resources, etc., etc., etc.) isn't there to support it and won't be in the time frames being pushed. Many (most) people don't have (and won't have) enough $ to buy a new electric or hybrid car (under the illogical "spend money to save money" theory). And they shut down electric-generating plants thereby lessening available electricity.
I can't say for certain whether renewable energy will be a sustainable solution or not. However, I am ver suspicious of anyone who touts all the upsides without seemingly to understand any of the downsides.
If we move to electric vehicles we will about double our electricity consumption. Are we ready for that? Electricity is the epitome of hand-to-mouth or just-in-time production. Just producing the right amout of electricity averaged over any period is not proof that it will work. Imagine getting 365 breakfasts, lunches and teas on Jan 1st and no more food for the rest of the year. The average works out well but you could still be starving after January.
Consequently, we need to be able to store huge quantities of electricity. Mining for the chemicals to make batteries, electric motors and generators is not a zero pollution undertaking. For instance, see: Rare-earth mining in China comes at a heavy cost for local villages
Infrastructure (charging stations, battery plants, battery components/resources, etc., etc., etc.) isn't there to support it and won't be in the time frames being pushed. Many (most) people don't have (and won't have) enough $ to buy a new electric or hybrid car (under the illogical "spend money to save money" theory). And they shut down electric-generating plants thereby lessening available electricity.
Pure genius from "the experts"