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A comment on Photos Capture the Breathtaking Scale of China's Wind and Solar Buildout. Parent comment

Re:Photos Capture the Breathtaking Scale of China's Wind and... by Rover222 on Thursday January 15, 2026 @09:02AM (#46632670)
Similar to the idea that electric cars are net worse for the environment because some of the materials used to make them. Worse than 20 years of burning gasoline in an ICE car? It's so ridiculous.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Photos Capture the Breathtaking Scale of China's Wind and... by gregbot on Thursday January 15, 2026 @08:23PM (#46641871)
it depends where your electricity comes from actually. In west Virginia it comes from coal so is worse than a hybrid but still better than non-hybrid gas cars (in terms of CO2)
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Re:Photos Capture the Breathtaking Scale of China's Wind and... by pcchristie on Friday January 16, 2026 @12:01AM (#46643143)
No it's not. The efficiency of an EV Motor > efficiency of ICEV motor. Even with 100% black coal. The carbon is reduced by about 30% IIRC (that number can and does improve as the grid greens).
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Re:Photos Capture the Breathtaking Scale of China's Wind and... by gregbot on Friday January 16, 2026 @09:36AM (#46646763)
Yes it is. Here is the study

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S03062...

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Re:Photos Capture the Breathtaking Scale of China's Wind and... by Rover222 on Friday January 16, 2026 @01:14PM (#46649760)
That's an 11 year old study that is no longer correct based on the modern electric grid.

Also focusing on only carbon footprint is misleading. EVs pollute far less overall, even on the 2015 electric grid.

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Re:Photos Capture the Breathtaking Scale of China's Wind and... by gregbot on Friday January 16, 2026 @05:08PM (#46652868)
I await your updated study to back up your claims
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Re:Photos Capture the Breathtaking Scale of China's Wind and... by Rover222 on Saturday January 17, 2026 @08:54AM (#46658082)
I shall not explain the obvious
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Re:Photos Capture the Breathtaking Scale of China's Wind and... by gregbot on Saturday January 17, 2026 @03:40PM (#46661847)
In 2023, coal-fired electric power plants accounted for 86% of West Virginia's total electricity net generation

https://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=WV

Looks like west virginia is still a state where hybrid-electric vehicles have lower emissions than all-electric ones. Who knew.

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