Just had a guy at a BBQ tell me electric cars are worse for the planet than gas trucks

This was last weekend at my brother's place in Phoenix. Some dude I never met before saw my Leaf parked in the driveway and just launched into this whole speech about lithium mining and coal power plants. I told him I charge off my solar panels at home and he just waved his hand and said yeah but the grid still runs on coal most of the time. Then he pointed at his F-150 and said it'll last 20 years easy while my battery will be trash in 8. I just stood there holding a burger not really knowing what to say. Has anyone else run into this weird energy where people act like doing something is the same as doing nothing?

2 comments

2 Comments

nathan19323d ago

Why do people pick fights at BBQs over other people's cars? Your solar setup sounds legit to me.

james_butler23d ago

Next time just ask him how much lithium is in his phone and watch him change the subject real quick. The mining argument is always a dead end because every modern device uses the same materials. As for the grid argument, point out that even in coal heavy states the grid gets cleaner every year while gas trucks stay exactly the same for their whole life. The lifespan thing is legit but batteries don't just die at 8 years anymore, most EVs lose maybe 10% capacity over a decade and still run fine. Best move is to just say "man you clearly care about the planet too, we just disagree on the path" and walk away to get another burger. Some people need to feel smart more than they need to be right.