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Comment by fulafel | Hacker News Reader

How could we ensure EVs reduce global short term oil & gas drilling and consumption, instead of just just enabling additional car use on top of fossil powered cars?

Developing countries have car ownership numbers rising fast without western style EV subsidies, and it seems US gas guzzlers will stay in circulation for decades fed by cheap fuel there.

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Ideally through a carbon tax which, unfortunately, current politicians seem too cowardly to even propose.

Will people be taxed for exhaling CO2?

No. Actually, technically yes but very indirectly. The fossil fuels would be taxed which are agricultural inputs for the food which we eat and then exhale.

I think that short term oil and gas drilling is only going to decrease from increased green power, probably mostly solar in the current market. In the long run, ideally easily scaled green power drives the price of electricity down low enough that pretty much anything drawing from the grid is cheaper than burning fossil fuels.

So by your analysis, the EU will be full electric within the next decade or so?

People drive much less and use much more fuel efficient cars in Europe. USA uses more gasoline pet capita than even Saudi Arabia, and 4-5 times what western europeans use: https://www.globalpetrolprices.com/articles/52/

Your source is inaccurate: https://www.worldometers.info/oil/oil-consumption-by-country

Europe uses less oil, but still uses a lot. Thinking that Europeans aren't guilty of carbon emissions is a flawed take. Why didn't you mention Europe in your comment? I'm assuming you live in Europe and think your people are infallible...

Gasoline vs oil overall, to zoom in to cars.

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