Trains.com

CARB Rules now hitting nerves outside of Calif.

8530 views
103 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Thursday, April 18, 2024 6:27 PM

adkrr64
 
charlie hebdo
Nobody is forcing you to buy. 

Some states are in fact forcing people to buy EVs:

https://abc7ny.com/electric-vehicle-new-york-zero-emissions-cars/12279246/ 

Other states are realizing EV's under current laws are not paying gasoline taxes and are starting to come up with other means of taxation for them.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    July 2016
  • 2,631 posts
Posted by Backshop on Thursday, April 18, 2024 4:16 PM

charlie hebdo

 

 
tree68

 

 
charlie hebdo
anti EV

 

Not anti - but until the driving experience is equal to an ICE, I won't be buying one.

That means ten minute "fill-ups" and a 500 mile range, which is what I have right now.

 

 

 

Charge overnight in garage. They sre much peppier driving, quiet and better for the environment. This is an issue that transcends individual choices.

  If traveling, an extra 20 minutes won't hurt. You can get coffee or some treats.

Or consider a PHEV (plug-in hybrid).

Nobody is forcing you to buy. The manufacturers are shifting to meet standards.

 

I regularly go to Marquette in the UP.  EV chargers are few and far between. You also say that nobody is forcing you to buy an EV, while also saying it's an issue that "transcends individual choices".  It sure sounds like you'd like to be able to force people. Would you also be in favor of being told what size house you live in?  After all, two people can get by just fine in 800-1000 square feet and it would require less utilities.  It would be good for the planet, you know.

  • Member since
    July 2016
  • 2,631 posts
Posted by Backshop on Thursday, April 18, 2024 4:12 PM

charlie hebdo

 

 
tree68

 

 
charlie hebdo
anti EV

 

Not anti - but until the driving experience is equal to an ICE, I won't be buying one.

That means ten minute "fill-ups" and a 500 mile range, which is what I have right now.

 

 

 

Charge overnight in garage. They sre much peppier driving, quiet and better for the environment. This is an issue that transcends individual choices.

  If traveling, an extra 20 minutes won't hurt. You can get coffee or some treats.

Or consider a PHEV (plug-in hybrid).

Nobody is forcing you to buy. The manufacturers are shifting to meet standards.

 

I regularly go to Marquette in the UP.  EV chargers are few and far between.

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • 299 posts
Posted by adkrr64 on Thursday, April 18, 2024 3:07 PM

charlie hebdo
Nobody is forcing you to buy.

 

Some states are in fact forcing people to buy EVs:

https://abc7ny.com/electric-vehicle-new-york-zero-emissions-cars/12279246/

 

  • Member since
    September 2017
  • 5,636 posts
Posted by charlie hebdo on Thursday, April 18, 2024 2:43 PM

tree68

 

 
charlie hebdo
anti EV

 

Not anti - but until the driving experience is equal to an ICE, I won't be buying one.

That means ten minute "fill-ups" and a 500 mile range, which is what I have right now.

 

Charge overnight in garage. They sre much peppier driving, quiet and better for the environment. This is an issue that transcends individual choices.

  If traveling, an extra 20 minutes won't hurt. You can get coffee or some treats.

Or consider a PHEV (plug-in hybrid).

Nobody is forcing you to buy. The manufacturers are shifting to meet standards.

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • 1,686 posts
Posted by Erik_Mag on Thursday, April 18, 2024 2:17 PM

I'm with Larry in that I don't have an issue with EV's in general, but I do have an issue with mandating EV's. My experience with EV's was from using an EV to get to/from work and the Irvine station in 2014. EV's were ideal for this as they could be recharged overnight at the station.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,020 posts
Posted by tree68 on Thursday, April 18, 2024 11:14 AM

charlie hebdo
anti EV

Not anti - but until the driving experience is equal to an ICE, I won't be buying one.

That means ten minute "fill-ups" and a 500 mile range, which is what I have right now.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

  • Member since
    September 2017
  • 5,636 posts
Posted by charlie hebdo on Thursday, April 18, 2024 10:19 AM

Just as those folks most opposed to higher and high speed passenger rail have never ridden in a modern  ststem, those anti EV and anti PHEV and anti-electric and hybrid freight have never experienced any of them.  Coal freaks?  Nostalgia addicts?

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 4:54 PM
  • Member since
    September 2017
  • 5,636 posts
Posted by charlie hebdo on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 3:37 PM

n012944
Which is a ignorant meme not backed by facts.     In 2023 only 16.2% of the electricty produced on the US came from coal. faq.php A number that continues to drop.   2022 the number was 20% 2021 21.9% 2020 22.5% and that was the 1st year that more power was produced by renewable energy than coal.   However those facts doesn't get the blood going of the "rolling coal" ideologue, so it doesn't make a good meme.....

You're so right.  Even on here, a forum supposedly about modern transportation, the posts are mostly contemporary contrafactual Luddisms disguised as wit. 

  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: The 17th hole at TPC
  • 2,283 posts
Posted by n012944 on Monday, April 15, 2024 3:04 PM

Flintlock76

 

 
n012944
Which is an ignorant meme not backed by facts.  

 

As Foghorn Leghorn used to say:  "It's a joke, son!"

 

 

Except some people believe it.   When they are not parking their jacked up pick up trucks in front of car chargers or ranting about wanting people wanting to improve the environment.

An "expensive model collector"

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Central Iowa
  • 6,900 posts
Posted by jeffhergert on Sunday, April 14, 2024 7:44 PM

Flintlock76

 

 
Backshop
Now, natural gas is being seen as "bad".

 

Yeah, go figure!  NG was considered a godsend as it didn't pollute like coal or even oil did, now it's BAD!  Devil

Can you imagine if all the gas kitchen stoves in this country were coal-fired like they were in the 19th and early 20th Centuries, and that gas stoves were considered "The answer to a maiden's prayer!" when they came on the scene?  PLUS you could turn a gas stove off instantly while you couldn't turn off a coal stove without extinguishing the fire and then could only start the fire again with difficulty?  And THEN you had the ashes to dispose of? 

Where do these idiots who haven't a CLUE come from?

Coal is bad, gas is bad, oil is bad, hydro-electric is bad, windmills are bad because they kill birds, solar panels are bad because they're eyesores and take up green space.  And you can't even mention nuke plants without giving some people an attack of the vapors.  Isn't there some way we can tell these people to just shut the hell up and go away?

 

 

Everything is good at first.  When it comes to a scale of developement where it is or might be viable, and thus not requiring all deplorables to change their ways of living, it then becomes bad.

Jeff

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Sunday, April 14, 2024 3:29 PM

VERY clever!  And very entertaining! 

Good to know, we all may wind up doing something like this! 

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Sunday, April 14, 2024 3:18 PM

Flintlock76
 
BaltACD
Electric Stoves. 

Referring to my last paragraph where's the juice supposed to come from since the Greens can't even come to a common cause on the subject?

PS:  We've got an electric stove and have no problem with it, although Lady Firestorm would have preferred gas.  Me too in fact, gas stoves still work during blackouts.  Oh well, there's always Sterno. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVBR3HNjlYw

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,020 posts
Posted by tree68 on Sunday, April 14, 2024 2:23 PM

Flintlock76
PS:  We've got an electric stove and have no problem with it, although Lady Firestorm would have preferred gas.  Me too in fact, gas stoves still work during blackouts.  Oh well, there's always Sterno. 

NY has banned everything but electric in new construction at some point in the near future.  Once again, we just know the electricity fairy will come up with the power...

I wouldn't count on Sterno - NY is also talking about banning single use LP cylinders.  Sterno can't be far behind.  I think CA already has...

Just move into our "15 minute cities" and we'll take care of you...

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Sunday, April 14, 2024 1:45 PM

BaltACD
Electric Stoves.

Referring to my last paragraph where's the juice supposed to come from since the Greens can't even come to a common cause on the subject?

PS:  We've got an electric stove and have no problem with it, although Lady Firestorm would have preferred gas.  Me too in fact, gas stoves still work during blackouts.  Oh well, there's always Sterno. 

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Sunday, April 14, 2024 1:40 PM

n012944
Which is a ignorant meme not backed by facts.  

As Foghorn Leghorn used to say:  "It's a joke, son!"

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Sunday, April 14, 2024 1:40 PM

Flintlock76
 
Backshop
Now, natural gas is being seen as "bad". 

Yeah, go figure!  NG was considered a godsend as it didn't pollute like coal or even oil did, now it's BAD!  Devil

Can you imagine if all the gas kitchen stoves in this country were coal-fired like they were in the 19th and early 20th Centuries, and that gas stoves were considered "The answer to a maiden's prayer!" when they came on the scene?  PLUS you could turn a gas stove off instantly while you couldn't turn off a coal stove without extinguishing the fire and then could only start the fire again with difficulty?  And THEN you had the ashes to dispose of? 

Where do these idiots who haven't a CLUE come from?

Coal is bad, gas is bad, oil is bad, hydro-electric is bad, windmills are bad because they kill birds, solar panels are bad because they're eyesores and take up green space.  And you can't even mention nuke plants without giving some people an attack of the vapors.  Isn't there some way we can tell these people to just shut the hell up and go away?

Electric Stoves.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Sunday, April 14, 2024 1:32 PM

Backshop
Now, natural gas is being seen as "bad".

Yeah, go figure!  NG was considered a godsend as it didn't pollute like coal or even oil did, now it's BAD!  Devil

Can you imagine if all the gas kitchen stoves in this country were coal-fired like they were in the 19th and early 20th Centuries, and that gas stoves were considered "The answer to a maiden's prayer!" when they came on the scene?  PLUS you could turn a gas stove off instantly while you couldn't turn off a coal stove without extinguishing the fire and then could only start the fire again with difficulty?  And THEN you had the ashes to dispose of? 

Where do these idiots who haven't a CLUE come from?

Coal is bad, gas is bad, oil is bad, hydro-electric is bad, windmills are bad because they kill birds, solar panels are bad because they're eyesores and take up green space.  And you can't even mention nuke plants without giving some people an attack of the vapors.  Isn't there some way we can tell these people to just shut the hell up and go away?

 

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Sunday, April 14, 2024 1:11 PM

Erik_Mag
For electric generation, my guess the optimum mix would be nuclear for base load, solar (in lower latitudes) for daytime peaks, electric energy storage to handle evening demand and natural gas to make up for the shortfalls.

What has been interesting to watch over the last half-decade or so has been the 'distributed generation' alternative to a baseline-nuclear/renewable 'utility' supply model.  I became involved in this a bit more than expected when Deutsche Bank swung the development of the enginion AG supercritical powerplant toward home units, burning what was then low-pollution natural gas, that would be set up to run 'islanded' through a smart-meter infrastructure so that most peak power demand would be arbitrated by starting and stopping devices in particular demand regions.  The working idea was that differences in individual demand would be 'worked out' by average net consumption with correction for periods of higher anticipated or actual demand, with priority for 'load shedding' of various kinds facilitated by smart-home control (remember when that was a hot issue?)

You could run enginion boiler and superheater burners on town gas, but it would be relatively dangerous (and town gas is no longer economical to make 'green' or even 'blue'...).  In theory you could run them on hydrogen, but it would not be long until the booming started.  Very expensively for whoever was the service provider or equipment manufacturer unless they had some form of statutory immunity...

Distributed power now is a combination of solar generation of various scales and the Tesla-style 'powerwall' storage charging from both solar and, during low-demand periods, grid.  All the 'smart islanding' stuff is in principle available, although it needs a little refinement to make it 'hacker-proof' and immune from clever electricity mooches and thieves.  Whether or not we leverage 'emergency home generation' (mostly with natural gas or equivalent) remains to be seen, but it is about as amenable as large-scale solar to amortized or financed or subsidized incentives -- more and more so as we enter the age of third-world-style rolling brownouts or scheduled outages.

Does have to be said that ground-source heat-pump conversion is an interesting method of lowering major sources of demand... and much of the implementation can be done using at least renewable sources (zero-net-carbon, which I think is the thing to shoot for first if atmospheric and ultimately oceanic carbon reduction is the aim).

I keep seeing indications of people who are gearing up to run a Sabatier process on large amounts of atmospheric CO2 (which they claim to be able to extract at under $250/ metric tonne of gas) and some suitable method of green hydrogen separation (which they have similar low-cost claims for.)  Sabatier is exothermic, so it produces what might be useful process heat, and the 'monomer' gas that results is a useful building block for many materials if you want to sequester carbon without supercritical storage...

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • 1,686 posts
Posted by Erik_Mag on Sunday, April 14, 2024 12:35 PM

Overmod

If 'zero-carbon' is the priority, natural gas is as bad as coal.

I would also add that wind isn't much better than natural gas due to the need for concrete, steel, etc needed to make a wind turbine. A combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plant uses a small fraction of the materials that an equivalent in wind generation would require. This is also avoiding the subjects of transmission lines to remote sites, and how to make up for the intermittent power output from wind.

FWIW, the reduction in coal use has been driven more by the reduction in natural gas prices than by the rise in renewables. Due to coal plants needing to put out at least 30% of capacity, coal plants are usually operated as base load generation, which renewables are not a replacement.

In my opinion, the push for 'zero-carbon' is the wrong way to go, as there is no generation that doesn't involve some production of CO2. The more realistic approach is focusing on minimizing total carbon production. For electric generation, my guess the optimum mix would be nuclear for base load, solar (in lower latitudes) for daytime peaks, electric energy storage to handle evening demand and natural gas to make up for the shortfalls.

Note to "Tree": There is some optimum level of CO2 in the atmosphere, with lots of differing opionions of what that level is. It's almost certainly higher than the pre-industrial average of 280ppm.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,020 posts
Posted by tree68 on Sunday, April 14, 2024 12:33 PM

CMStPnP
That is, that if we remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere...

All the trees will die...

Since trees and other plants are the primary source of renewable oxygen, eventually, we'll run out of it, too...

There's a balance - but the hard core folks don't seem to understand that.

I just saw that one of the bigger voices in the green movement thinks that trees are bad.

 

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Sunday, April 14, 2024 9:58 AM

Coal was always a sort of a wretched fuel for electricity generation.  There were very effective methods for 'clean coal' operation (most of which didn't get much press) including near-full sequestration for about 23% increase in what would be charged for electricity.  But in an age where research is toward 'zero-carbon' and not 'zero-net-carbon' I don't expect to see any further development in this country, and the places elsewhere in the world still generating 'dirty' power don't seem to be concerned with very many of the clean-coal niceties.

If 'zero-carbon' is the priority, natural gas is as bad as coal.  What isn't mentioned is that both wind and solar have considerable, repeating, and sometimes relatively short-term replacement costs, and relatively large aggregate stranded cost.  The latter can, and has been, efffectively 'distributed' -- but not at the kind of scale required for even widespread automobile electrification.  The former has simply been whitewashed, but it is not difficult to figure out.

I suspect the idea is similar to that we see being developed for automobiles: to raise the factor price of electricity to 'charge what the traffic will bear'.  In theory that might be so great as to make carrier hydrogen begin to look cost-effective... 

  • Member since
    July 2016
  • 2,631 posts
Posted by Backshop on Saturday, April 13, 2024 8:15 PM

n012944

 

 
Flintlock76

 

 
tree68
Several years ago, GM was plugging their newest e-car when a reporter asked GM's flack where the power for charging the car came from.  The flack's answer was "this building." After a little give and take, the exchange ended inconclusively, but the reporter contacted a local authority who confirmed that the electricity for the grid there (Lansing, MI) did, indeed, come from a coal burning power plant...

 

Right, there's one of those pithy-to-the-point gag photographs going around titled  "Where The Electricity For Charging Your Electric Car Comes From."  It's a shot of a coal train parked next to a coal-fired power plant.  If I can find it again I'll try and link it. 

 

 

 

Which is a ignorant meme not backed by facts.  

 

In 2023 only 16.2% of the electricty produced on the US came from coal.

faq.php

A number that continues to drop.

 

2022 the number was 20%

2021 21.9%

2020 22.5% and that was the 1st year that more power was produced by renewable energy than coal.

 

However those facts doesn't get the blood going of the "rolling coal" ideologue, so it doesn't make a good meme.....

 

 

The problem is that many of those power plants were converted to natural gas firing because it was "good".  Now, natural gas is being seen as "bad".

  • Member since
    January 2015
  • 2,678 posts
Posted by kgbw49 on Saturday, April 13, 2024 7:08 PM

It is true that coal plants are being regulated out of existence in the US.

Not in China, not in India nor Indonesia, which are three of the top four countries in the world in terms of population with approximately 3/8 of total world population between the three of them. (India 1, China 2, US 3, Indonesia 4)

Their planned additional gigawatts of new coal plants dwarf the coal capacity being retired by the US even if the US gets down to zero.

Meantime, the Wall Street Journal reported this week that the average price of electricity is up 30% in three years as low-cost power plants are retired and inefficient more expensive sources replace them.

The Class I railroads are all still grappling with making up for the loss of coal traffic.

Ironically, CN and CPKC are both less dependent on coal traffic than the four US Class I railroads, and most of their Canada-generated coal traffic is exported through Roberts Bank.

  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: Dallas, TX
  • 6,952 posts
Posted by CMStPnP on Saturday, April 13, 2024 7:03 PM

As long as we are on this topic or this new tangent to another topic.    I am curious what people here think of this new philosophy that seems to be emerging among some circles.   That is, that if we remove carbon dixode from the atmosphere than we can extend the live of fossil fuel powered vehicles, more specifically Diesel Locomotives via carbon offsets.

Review the STRATOS project in Texas which is part of this philosophy and is being built by Oxy.   Their theory is this is a new revenue stream for Oil companies because CO2 is used in oil drilling (not sure how) and they can use the CO2 in operations while at the same time selling carbon offsets to industries like say railroads if they want to continue to run diesel locomotives.

Would be curious to know how railroads specifically feel about this as an alternative to converting to Electric, LNG or something else.    Will railroads embrace carbon offsets or will they adapt an alternate power source.........or will they do both?

https://www.oxy.com/news/news-releases/occidental-and-blackrock-form-joint-venture-to-develop-stratos-the-worlds-largest-direct-air-capture-plant/

 

 

  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: South Central,Ks
  • 7,170 posts
Posted by samfp1943 on Saturday, April 13, 2024 6:52 PM

[quote user="tree68"]

Flintlock76
You know, depending on your age (I'm 70) we ALWAYS knew where the things we took for granted came from.

Seen elsewhere:  Son to Father (on the cusp of a shocking discovery) - "Isn't it funny that a food (chicken) and an animal have the same name?"

It's said that there's one cow on Long Island, NY, and it's fiberglass.  Some years ago, a NY state firefighter's competition was held here (very much dairy and beef country).  There were reports that some Long Island firefighters, driving their fire department vehicles (of course equipped with siren and PA) were heard broadcasting over the PA, "Mooooo..."

I was born in this area, and grew up in then-rural southeastern Michigan.  My mother grew up on a farm.  At one point, we lived next to a farm in MI. 

When visiting here from MI for vacation, I would sometimes stay with my cousins for a week.  One of their chores was to head across the road (and the creek) each morning to pick up a couple quarts of milk.  Sometimes we'd beat the cream in before pouring it on our cereal, sometimes it would get skimmed for making butter.

Today's kids largely have no clue.Bang Head

[/quote]

YEPPERS!   Most of these 'millinials'  these days would starve to death in the local stores....even eith a can opener.....Thanks, that today, we have BRAUMS and  Dillon's (Kroger).....Bang Head  Whistling

 

 


 

  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: The 17th hole at TPC
  • 2,283 posts
Posted by n012944 on Saturday, April 13, 2024 6:41 PM

Flintlock76

 

 
tree68
Several years ago, GM was plugging their newest e-car when a reporter asked GM's flack where the power for charging the car came from.  The flack's answer was "this building." After a little give and take, the exchange ended inconclusively, but the reporter contacted a local authority who confirmed that the electricity for the grid there (Lansing, MI) did, indeed, come from a coal burning power plant...

 

Right, there's one of those pithy-to-the-point gag photographs going around titled  "Where The Electricity For Charging Your Electric Car Comes From."  It's a shot of a coal train parked next to a coal-fired power plant.  If I can find it again I'll try and link it. 

 

Which is a ignorant meme not backed by facts.  

 

In 2023 only 16.2% of the electricty produced on the US came from coal.

faq.php

A number that continues to drop.

 

2022 the number was 20%

2021 21.9%

2020 22.5% and that was the 1st year that more power was produced by renewable energy than coal.

 

However those facts doesn't get the blood going of the "rolling coal" ideologue, so it doesn't make a good meme.....

 

An "expensive model collector"

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,020 posts
Posted by tree68 on Saturday, April 13, 2024 6:24 PM

Flintlock76
You know, depending on your age (I'm 70) we ALWAYS knew where the things we took for granted came from.

Seen elsewhere:  Son to Father (on the cusp of a shocking discovery) - "Isn't it funny that a food (chicken) and an animal have the same name?"

It's said that there's one cow on Long Island, NY, and it's fiberglass.  Some years ago, a NY state firefighter's competition was held here (very much dairy and beef country).  There were reports that some Long Island firefighters, driving their fire department vehicles (of course equipped with siren and PA) were heard broadcasting over the PA, "Mooooo..."

I was born in this area, and grew up in then-rural southeastern Michigan.  My mother grew up on a farm.  At one point, we lived next to a farm in MI. 

When visiting here from MI for vacation, I would sometimes stay with my cousins for a week.  One of their chores was to head across the road (and the creek) each morning to pick up a couple quarts of milk.  Sometimes we'd beat the cream in before pouring it on our cereal, sometimes it would get skimmed for making butter.

Today's kids largely have no clue.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy