163 karma · joined May 31, 2025
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> Fossil fuels generate about 60% of U.S. utility-scale electricity
If we are being generous, these power plants are around 50-60% efficient. Motor vehicle engines are around 35-45% efficient.
If you actually go do the math and account for all the losses during each step of conversion and transmission, I think you would find that they are much closer to each-other than you think.
You have to compare energy usage all the way back to the source, otherwise you are throwing vital information.
Not even close
> Heatpumps are 4 - 5X efficient
Compared to heating elements, possible, but that's cause heatpumps do not create heat, but move heat. They come with the disadvantage of being really slow, and would increase baseline load during nighttime.
> Induction stoves are 4 - 5X efficient (vs gas stoves)
Nope
> Centralized power generation with fossil fuels loses ~75% (67% wasted up front, remaining in transmission and distribution).
How are you planning on powering all your electric appliances? And before you say solar, you are aware that the sun only shines during daytime, while peak energy usage happens in the morning and late afternoon. It would also mean that car chargers would have to be installed at workplaces for EV's to take advantage of cheap daytime energy. Good luck convincing your employer to eat that cost.
> There are many many other losses and costs: defense budget to protect oil infra
Your fighter jets are not going to be powered by batteries any time soon.
> fossil fuel subsidies
The government also taxes fuels, I am too lazy to calculate if they are net taxed, or net subsidized (excluding externalities, of course).
> ethanol subsidies, trillions of gallons of water,
Sure, ethanol sucks.
> externalized health costs (10M deaths from air pollution/year -- nytimes)
Energy ain't free, you know. Without an abundance of renewable sources available like Norway or Iceland, there is going to be a cost payed to maintain the lifestyles people have gotten used to. Solar is only a partial solution. I cannot see how grid scale chemical batteries are as clean as people make them out to be.
The people building houses, ensure sanitation systems work, plan logistics to get food to supermarkets etc. should earn triple the amount academics earn.
> To combat corruption these countries need to educate their population of its effects plus hefty penalties, including capital punishment, to get it under control. The higher up the tree the more severe the punishment should be. Politicians and senior civil servants should always be put to death since their corruption has the greatest impact.
Giving the government the power to exert these punishments will only give the corrupt officials the power to legally do this to their enemies.
There is no hope for these countries.
The system is rigged against people who provide labour, when these people are the ones keeping the system going. Why can companies deduct taxes from operating expenses and investments, yet individuals are taxed on revenue? This means companies can build wealth much easier than individuals. Why is housing, food, education and savings not considered operating expenses?
Not all heroes wear capes
Search hybrid inverter and rack mount batteries.
The iphone is the best selling computing device in history and is among the most expensive in its category.
How though. Roads are a public good and fixing them should come from the governments pocket. How can you say the problem is private industry, when the government is doing such a good job collecting our tax money. You should be asking where is that money going. And then you will see its because of mismanagement by the government. Trillions in debt, for what?
Potholes are a visible manifestation of society saying it's better to vote for people who vibe with you, than people who can provide essential services.
Careful using words like "need". The resources are allocated to the economically most efficient sectors. Since if you are economically efficient, your profits are higher and can afford to pay more than others.
Which is absurd, since all the technology he used was manufactured by the conventionally powerful forces and they can decide to not sell you their stuff.
Also fighter jets are capable of doing so much more than fpv drones, its actually funny that people think drones are the future.