DougC 2,641 #26 Posted June 19, 2021 I normally wear my headphones/ hearing protection and listen to 50's and 60's music when I mow so my noisy old gas powered tractors don't bother me at all. My neighbors are all about 1/4 mile away so if I mowed naked to get that all over tan nobody would see me or hear me anyway. Nice to live in the country. Just me and my wife and the dogs and the guns and the gasoline and diesel powered engines we have a lot of fun... 2 5 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crazyredhorse 295 #27 Posted June 19, 2021 The future will be interesting.it will come down to walk or choke to death.if our water is still drinkable by then. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DougC 2,641 #28 Posted June 19, 2021 If we want to go there. I remember a song playing on the radio in the early '70s In the Year 2525 will man still be alive and it just kept going......... Youtube it if you are not familiar with it. It is quite shocking or at least it got my attention at the age of 16. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 12,235 #29 Posted June 19, 2021 2 hours ago, c-series don said: if we switched to electric vehicles tomorrow it would collapse the grid because it simply cannot handle that kind of load The transition to electric is picking up speed and there will be some bumpy years ahead. Distruption to THREE major industries: electric power distribution is one, but oil companies and filling stations are the other two. (The auto makers are still gonna make autos!) Close behind will be the sourcing and disposal of battery components. IMHO, if you earn your (lean) living carrying around a backpack blower without ear protection or a dust mask, an unhappy "wealthy" homeowner complaining isn't gonna make much impact on you--unless it's your client. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crazyredhorse 295 #30 Posted June 19, 2021 at your service 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oliver2-44 9,759 #31 Posted June 19, 2021 quote from the article" Of course, for those looking for a project this spring, there’s an alternative: getting rid of high-maintenance yards and seeding native plants instead." Before I retired my employer has gone all in on xeriscape and native plants & grasses. Our plant office yard guy worked for me and when I retired I had 10+ years of timesheet and expenses, documented proof of how much more the new "low maintenance" landscape cost. I think many native plants are a good idea. But the low water grasses they are pushing in Texas like zoysia leave a lot to be desired. They need almost full sun (so no trees) and don't stand up to foot traffic ( a kids yard volleyball game is out of the question) . So why have a yard. Ironically I just started a 10 week Texas Master Gardner's class put on as part of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. The Master Gardener Program started in Texas in the 70's and is now in over 30 states. So far I like that it proposes a mix of native/natural ways and modern way/plants. don't look for me to tear out the yard. I'm just wanting to learn how to take better care of my Pecan trees. ...O, and find a few more uses for my Wheelhorse tractors at the volunteer garden's Like all things I believe we need to be good stewards of our Earth. Growing up in the farming world, If a farmer that didn't take care of his land, he wasn't going to be in business to pass it on to his children. So why today is everything always All In or Nothing. We used to be smarter than that. We looked at what was the most responsible and cost effective way to do things. 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 38,226 #32 Posted June 19, 2021 1 hour ago, Handy Don said: Distruption to THREE major industries I would add a few more....., NASCAR , airlines, ocean shipping 1 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,316 #33 Posted June 20, 2021 2 hours ago, Handy Don said: The transition to electric is picking up speed and there will be some bumpy years ahead. Amazon is already getting tax advantaged bonds, and elimination of property tax for their locations. Now they are buying a fleet of electric trucks (Government subsidized) so the won't have to pay gas tax and will be putting in solar farms for their use (also subsidized) so they won't have to pay for the "Carbon Footprint. Some see this as progress, I see it as just another rip-off of the average citizen. 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RandyLittrell 3,884 #34 Posted June 20, 2021 6 hours ago, ebinmaine said: Electric trucks have been in development for decades. As batteries increase in practical usability then so too will zero emission heavy trucks. But.... There in lies another several issues combined. Power plants in many places are not even close to being capable of producing or transporting the incredible amount of demand that even a partial fleet of the nations trucks as electric, could use. I think we need truck specific roads and let them pull a long string of trailers which I know, you know. But, I guess that would cut down on drivers, so maybe not. Randy 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 12,235 #35 Posted June 20, 2021 2 hours ago, Ed Kennell said: I would add a few more....., NASCAR , airlines, ocean shipping Interesting ideas. I can see all of these continuing and using petroleum fuels for a while. NASCAR will go first but not until sales of electric cars for consumers has higher market penetration--then we'll want to see our "road" cars and trucks on the track. Not sure how they'll manage to get enough charge to run a 400 or a 500 at 200+ MPH! Maybe pit stops will be to change batteries (or the tires. will have the batteries inside!) Airlines and shipping will take longer because they are more global and the lesser economies won't be supporting alternate fuels and electric vehicles as quickly. These two industries, I suspect, will become the main customers of petroleum (along with power plants) as they gradually transition. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
8ntruck 7,016 #36 Posted June 20, 2021 Isn't NASCAR using ethanol for fuel? Seems like they were making a big deal about that several years ago. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 38,226 #37 Posted June 20, 2021 https://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/2014/11/18/nascar-endorses-ethanol/19189377/ 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 25,600 #38 Posted June 20, 2021 (edited) Yes things change. Always do. Horses shared the “road” for a long time with the automobile… I’m confident that gasoline and diesel powered motors and vehicles will be around a long time…sharing the road with their battery powered friends. What concerns me is that no one is addressing or talking about the serious environmental issues related to battery powered everything. The vast majority of all batteries today go right to the landfill. Yes some like car battery cores are reused, but most are trashed. The manufacturing of batteries? It’s not green… electricity production? Not green… You can’t get something for nothing - even from the government… but that’s what’s being sold to everyone - “it’s green!!!” No, it’s not… Walking - green Running - green Bicycles - sorta green, but bikes need to be manufactured etc. Tractors - sorry… Cars - yeah, no… You get the point… No, I’m not anti battery. Just bought a great battery powered Dewault mower. Love it! But it ain’t green like they want to say. All kinds of plastic, Two toxic as hell batteries, mowing grass that ain’t “green” in the first place…fertilizers weed killers etc… So…? Keep your Wheel Horses tuned up, and run them with pride. Just don’t scrap em… Edited June 20, 2021 by SylvanLakeWH 3 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 12,088 #39 Posted June 20, 2021 36 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said: So…? Keep your Wheel Horses tuned up, and run them with pride. Just don’t scrap em… Agreed. I have several electric power tools now that run on batteries. Great not towing a drop cord around or remembering which mix of gas is which. I'm more and more impressed by several battery powered mowers I see as well. That being said, I am not yet convinced to trade my Scag for an electric. The technology is getting close, but as has already been said we aren't there yet. Until some massive battery breaktrough happens, I'm sticking with gas power on the bigger stuff. Of course, I can still buy ethanol free gas even in my little town, so that makes a big difference as well. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
roadapples 6,983 #40 Posted June 20, 2021 No matter what we do here in the USA, will make little difference until China, India and many others do the same... 5 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crazyredhorse 295 #41 Posted June 20, 2021 That's the scary part of all this we can all see the damage it's doing but there isn't one of us that willing to give up the convenience of driving.and it's almost a necessity. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Horse Newbie 7,075 #42 Posted June 20, 2021 9 hours ago, DougC said: I normally wear my headphones/ hearing protection and listen to 50's and 60's music when I mow so my noisy old gas powered tractors don't bother me at all. My neighbors are all about 1/4 mile away so if I mowed naked to get that all over tan nobody would see me or hear me anyway. Nice to live in the country. Just me and my wife and the dogs and the guns and the gasoline and diesel powered engines we have a lot of fun... Time for me to move to Iowa ! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Horse Newbie 7,075 #43 Posted June 20, 2021 2 hours ago, SylvanLakeWH said: Yes things change. Always do. Horses shared the “road” for a long time with the automobile… I’m confident that gasoline and diesel powered motors and vehicles will be around a long time…sharing the road with there battery powered friends. What concerns me is that no one is addressing or talking about the serious environmental issues related to battery powered everything. The vast majority of all batteries today go right to the landfill. Yes some like car battery cores are reused, but most are trashed. The manufacturing of batteries? It’s not green… electricity production? Not green… You can’t get something for nothing - even from the government… but that’s what’s being sold to everyone - “it’s green!!!” No, it’s not… Walking - green Running - green Bicycles - sorta green, but bikes need to be manufactured etc. Tractors - sorry… Cars - yeah, no… You get the point… No, I’m not anti battery. Just bought a great battery powered Dewault mower. Love it! But it ain’t green like they want to say. All kinds of plastic, Two toxic as hell batteries, mowing grass that ain’t “green” in the first place…fertilizers weed killers etc… So…? Keep your Wheel Horses tuned up, and run them with pride. Just don’t scrap em… I'm glad somebody said it ! 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crazyredhorse 295 #44 Posted June 20, 2021 (edited) Just to get an idea https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/oil-and-petroleum-products/use-of-oil.php and https://www.coltura.org/ Edited June 20, 2021 by Crazyredhorse Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,130 #45 Posted June 20, 2021 https://www.industryweek.com/technology-and-iiot/article/22026518/lithium-batteries-dirty-secret-manufacturing-them-leaves-massive-carbon-footprint#:~:text=Once in operation%2C electric cars,CO2 than for conventional cars.&text=By 2021%2C capacity will exist,to data of Bloomberg NEF. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,130 #46 Posted June 20, 2021 https://www.telecomtv.com/content/emerging-tech/lithium-mining-now-a-strategic-geopolitical-issue-for-the-us-41492/amp/ 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,154 #47 Posted June 20, 2021 6 hours ago, Horse Newbie said: Time for me to move to Iowa ! Bring an ironing board for the down hill races! @DougC 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,316 #48 Posted June 20, 2021 7 hours ago, roadapples said: No matter what we do here in the USA, will make little difference until China, India and many others do the same... We (our government do-gooders) forced our industries to go overseas to protect the environment. There was no consideration give to the fact that the environment is global and we have no say in what is done to it in other parts of the world. 2 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
edgro 677 #49 Posted June 20, 2021 Around here they still use coal to produce electricity.......who would have thought, a coal powered vehicle, your new electric lawn mower is really powered by coal 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHNJ701 4,165 #50 Posted June 20, 2021 10 hours ago, Handy Don said: Interesting ideas. I can see all of these continuing and using petroleum fuels for a while. NASCAR will go first but not until sales of electric cars for consumers has higher market penetration Of course Nascrap will cave in and go green, surprised they didn't already. Nascar has zero influence on car sales anymore. There's probably 5 people left on the planet that watch it on tv. It's amazing that it's still on. Formula 1 has the E series. I think those cars run in 175mph range. 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
