SnarfyMcSnarferson
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Jun 30, 2026 11:18 PM
SnarfyMcSnarferson
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SgtDefaultGN
100% agree. They’re all neat and cool in niche situations but ultimately old tech that just doesn’t cut it with today’s needs.
TheobromineAddict
It won't happen in my lifetime, but eventually fossil fuels will stop being used for ground transportation. It's inevitable.
lightfoot2
As the now owner of a Fischer SA1000 I can say that vacuum tubes make for impressive amps. Stupid amps, but impressive.
PileOfWalthers
It occurs to me there was all this concerned handwringing oh where would those electric cars get their power from, the poor poor grid, gracious me! Not hearing any such things about all these data centers. And if you do, you’re told it’s all Chinese propaganda LOL
Vter1
Based on these numbers: If you converted all 95.2 million acres of corn into fuel it would yield 1.066 billion miles. America drives 3,300 billion miles per year(yes, that's trillions). Corn will never be a significant substitute for oil. Sources: (corn) >https://release.nass.usda.gov/reports/acrg0625.pdf (miles) https://www.bts.gov/content/us-vehicle-miles
SnarfyMcSnarferson
Now convert that corn into PV
Vter1
95.2 million acres x 830000 miles = 79,016 billion miles. More than enough to spare, plus solar can coexist with other land uses. Some crops do better than others, but this is one of the more recent articles I've seen on the matter. https://www.nature.com/articles/s44264-025-00121-w
mksu
I can't do full EV because I spend too much time in rural areas with none of that infrastructure, but I sure am enjoying my hybrid.
meganical
Me too. I love my hybrid. As an introvert, it’s a dream come true because I can just charge it at my house and never have to go to a gas station
swofromtherock
Can you charge at home? All EVs can be charged with a basic 120V plug now. It will be slow, but will work for most people's routines.
mksu
I'm sometimes driving 300+ miles in areas where you can't always count on gas stations, let alone EV charging.
Hexidimentional
i'm confused as to what "Vehicle miles per acre" means, like... acreage that the infrastructure occupies?
whitey211
Yes. One acre of solar can provide 800,000ish miles of driving, and one acre of corn can provide 11,000.
Hexidimentional
if you count nuclear power the differance changes drastically
SnarfyMcSnarferson
Im a huge proponent of nuclear but sadly we wasted the last 50 years arguing against it. If you want a gigawatt of power in today's world, its quicker and cheaper to go with renewables + batteries. The future of renewables is now the present
whitey211
Sure does.
Hexidimentional
we have gotten it down to 20mw out of a 50 foot trailer
lostwalllet
EVs are usually fossil fuels, lap. They vehicle may not burn the but the power plant that charges the car might.
oldguyexlurker
I live in the Phoenix area. A LARGE proportion of our electrical generation is hydroelectric or nuclear. And the solor installations between here and Los Angeles are MASSIVE. Generating is changing as the utility companies realize it actually costs less in the long run. (Also a lot of wind turbines along I-10 where the Santa Ana winds come pouring east from L.A.
delpharseven
The fossil fuel power plant is much more efficient at generating power than individual internal combustion engines. Transmitting electricity requires fewer resources than transporting fuel.
Smidge204
Fun fact #1: A typical EV can drive nearly as far on just the energy spent getting the oil out of the ground, refined into a gallon of gasoline, then into an ICEV's tank, as that ICEV can drive on that same gallon of gas. Fun fact #2: Even if 100% powered by coal generated electricity, a typical EV has the carbon footprint of a Prius.
JerzeeTomato
Not to mention all the rare earth element mining that goes into the batteries.
Smidge204
You can tell someone has no fucking clue what they're talking about when they mention "rare earth elements in the batteries."
JerzeeTomato
Wow. Sorry... feel free to drop some knowledge in me.
Smidge204
Well for starters, there are no rare earth elements used in EV battery production.
JerzeeTomato
Sorry. I thought cobalt was one. I do know that cobalt mining in the DRC has been an environmental and humanitarian disaster.