Our obsession with private automobiles is unsustainable

[BaoXu]

Our obsession with private automobiles is unsustainable
By David Suzuki with Faisal Moola

Are we driving ourselves into oblivion? Or will new automobile technology save us from the environmental impact of the fossil-fuelled tanks we use to get around?

On the extreme end of the consequences of our auto-centric societies, we need only to look at the recent massive traffic jam in China that stretched for 100 kilometres and lasted almost two weeks. Apparently it’s becoming a common occurrence in China, where use of the private automobile and truck transport are increasing.

On the brighter side, automobile technology has improved a lot over the past few years, partly in response to stricter fuel-emissions standards in countries including Canada and the U.S. But is it enough? We’ve had commercially available hybrid cars now for more than a decade, but they still use fossil fuels. Electric-car technology is picking up, but it doesn’t resolve all of the issues, especially as the electricity still must come from somewhere, and in many places, that means coal-fired power plants. Car manufacturing is also energy-intensive.

To resolve some of these issues, an Alberta company has developed an electric car made out of hemp fibre. Beyond reductions in fossil-fuel use to power the car, the materials used to manufacture it are also more sustainable. Hemp grows easily outdoors with little water or pesticides, and it can be used in lightweight but durable composites to build the cars.

One invention that partly avoids the problem of charging electric car batteries using electricity sources that may contribute to greenhouse gas emissions is U.S. inventor Charles Greenwood’s inexpensive HumanCar. It can operate as an exercise-based, human-powered vehicle or a plug-in hybrid electric. Power can be generated by one to four people who “row” the car. It can reach speeds of up to 100 kilometres an hour. Of course, it has its drawbacks, especially as one must be pretty healthy to operate it.

Cars powered by solar cells and hydrogen are also being developed, along with cars that use alternatives to fossil fuels, such as ethanol or biodiesel.

The need for solutions is obvious. Cars not only contribute to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, but they also cause water pollution from fuel-storage leaks, improper disposal of oil, and runoff from roads that washes into rivers, lakes, and oceans. Noise pollution, death from road accidents, and the impact of cars on the shape of urban environment are all issues as well.

Technological developments are welcome, but maybe it’s time we started rethinking our car culture as whole. The average car in North America carries 1.5 people, which means that most cars on the road only have a driver in them. Is it really efficient to use more than 1,000 kilograms of metal to transport 100 kilograms of human?

And, as an article on The Mark News website argues: “Requiring about 90 square metres for home storage, 90 square metres for storage at destination, 180 square metres while traveling and another 60 square metres for repairs, servicing, or sale, an automobile occupies more than 400 square metres altogether – more space than most apartments.”

Using a life-cycle analysis, which takes into account manufacture and disposal, as well as operation, you find that cars are inefficient products.

We aren’t likely to do away with private cars in the near future, especially in rural areas with low population density. But we can at least start to think differently about our “need” for them. That means improvements to public transit, urban design that is less car-centric, and other innovative ideas to reduce our reliance. Walking and cycling when possible is also great, and it improves health.

When we must drive, we should try to use cars that are fuel-efficient, and drive in ways that cut down on fuel use, such as combining trips and shutting the car off rather than idling when stopped.

Even in China, it’s not all bad news. Although car culture is growing, the use of electric bikes is exploding. In 2008, people in China bought 21 million e-bikes, compared to 9.4 million autos. China now has 120 million electric bikes on the road, up from about 50,000 a decade ago.

We take our cars for granted, but really, they haven’t been a part of our human culture for that long, and they needn’t be an essential part forever.

Learn more at www.davidsuzuki.org.

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http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Environm.../15203886.html

[LiquidTurbo]

Pretty sure David Suzuki probably drove to work today.

[Alpine50]

^^^^^LOL
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[TomBox_N]

Lol, it's David Suzuki, what do u expect. He's like the greatest hypocrite in the world. This guy has an agenda so take what he says with a grain of salt and add a pinch of pepper to taste.
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[bengy]

It's ok, the only reason OP posted this is because it gives props to China for using more electrical bicycles or someshit... Guess they ride bikes there and come to BC to get their driving fix...

[Qmx323]

"Cough Cough, BC Air so fresh.... Lets buy big Bao Ma Cha 5 (BMW X5), and Ben Chi ML (Benz ML), its ok Xiao Mei, I lat you drive here, MUCH SAFER!"

[PiuYi]

Originally Posted by bengy

It's ok, the only reason OP posted this is because it gives props to China for using more electrical bicycles or someshit...

this. next time someone bashes china for being polluter/unenvironmentally friendly, OP will point to this thread

[jungle168]

I wonder how much CO2 was emitted from the airplane he took in order to do this interview. David Suzuki needs to seriously STFU.

[Tapioca]

Private automobiles are unsustainable.

But by the time shit hits the fan, I'll be in my 60s (motor skills deteriorated and all) and looking back at the fun times I had driving cars. Memories are priceless.

[spoon.ek9]

Originally Posted by jungle168

I wonder how much CO2 was emitted from the airplane he took in order to do this interview. David Suzuki needs to seriously STFU.

i can't remember exactly what the numbers/distance required was but, a single airplane flight can create as much green house emissions as a car does in an entire year. don't quote me on that though. i believe it was something like a 12 hr flight for that to be true. ie, flying to hong kong.

[CP.AR]

so did he just state the obvious or what

[gars]

the only issue with China - is that when they opened up to the world - the first thing to explode in numbers wasn't cars, it was scooters. Now scooters are great because they're much, MUCH more efficient than cars... but they are horrible for contributing to smog. That's why a lot of Chinese cities are so gross. China's put a lot more restrictions on scooters now, hence the rise in electric bicycles.

[RRxtar]

why didnt i hear about this 2 week long 100km traffic jam?



and also, david suzuki pisses me off. i hear him every morning on the radio and half the shit he says is bs

[jpark]

Originally Posted by Captain Picard

so did he just state the obvious or what

i would think so

[jungle168]

Originally Posted by spoon.ek9

i can't remember exactly what the numbers/distance required was but, a single airplane flight can create as much green house emissions as a car does in an entire year. don't quote me on that though. i believe it was something like a 12 hr flight for that to be true. ie, flying to hong kong.

You're probably pretty close. I remember watching a documentary on CBC regarding air travel and they found that airplanes generate a far greater amount of CO2 than private automobiles. Obviously, this wasn't a big surprise. This is coupled with the fact that the planes release their emissions higher up in the atmosphere which "supposedly" does more damage.

I just get choked how automobiles always get such a bad rap but planes and other modes of transportation never even get a second glance. Why don't they pick on people who don't own a car but like to travel to far flung destinations 2-3 times are year? Cause they probably do a hell of a lot more damage than the average commuter. You know what I mean?

[optiblue]

man... his article almost makes me feel bad for buying a very fuel inefficient car! "almost"

[J____]

this guy is still alive? i remember doing a biography about him back in elementary school... he was old then too lol.

[cctw]

^lol thats what i was thinking..but he probably has a stash of articles at home already written up to be released even after he's gone..

[bengy]

Originally Posted by Qmx323

"Cough Cough, BC Air so fresh.... Lets buy big Bao Ma Cha 5 (BMW X5), and Ben Chi ML (Benz ML), its ok Xiao Mei, I lat you drive here, MUCH SAFER!"

That was fuckin funny! Thanks!