zerowaste

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Discussing ways to reduce waste and build community!

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What to do with fuel-burning cars -- convert them? (self.zerowaste)

submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by activistPnk to c/zerowaste

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The avg. age of a car bought in Africa at the time of purchase is 21 years old. All these people buying EVs think they are taking a gas-burner off the road. But in fact cars do not get thrown away. They get shipped to Africa where they live on and continue to emit GHG for decades longer.

So what’s the answer? Destroying the car is a non-starter, as no one would throw away value. It would be like asking people to set some of their cash on fire.

Why not remove the engine and repurpose it as a backup power generator for power outtages? Then convert the rest of the car into an EV.

Conversions are being done. There are some companies offering to do the work. But these are very small scale operations that are rarely spoken of. I have to wonder why (what seems like) the best solution is being overlooked.

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[–] Fox@pawb.social 11 points 2 months ago

One thing to consider is that a newly imported old car to Africa is probably replacing an even older car with worse efficiency and emissions. Given how spotty electrical service is in those places and that almost half of the continent doesn't even have electric service to the home, EVs are probably not any kind of solution yet for most.