Is anyone interested in Tesla NOT because of any environmental reasons?

[neroden]

For the people who feel they're helping the environment by owning a MS. It seems to be a wash compared to ICE. Maybe it's different for a larger car??

Electric cars can be dirtier than traditional gas cars

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That study is pure garbage, and I emailed the author.

In addition to the obvious caveat that it doesn't include well or refinery emissions for gasoline (!!!), it has a worse problem.

It doesn't have the power grid composition correct. There are obvious errors, like showing Wyoming as all-renewable and western NY (Niagara Falls) as coal-powered.

I suspect they're using bad data or out of date data or something.

It is possible for a Tesla to be dirtier than a gasoline car, if the Tesla's run off inefficient Midwestern or Southern coal and the gasoline car is a 58 mpg Prius. But this study's numbers are just plain wrong.

 

[ohmman]

For the people who feel they're helping the environment by owning a MS. It seems to be a wash compared to ICE. Maybe it's different for a larger car??

Electric cars can be dirtier than traditional gas cars

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It's also possible the people who feel they're doing better by the environment have done more research.

 

[mknox]

In contrast to your remarks, I think a lot of people who drive a Tesla believe (rightly or wrongly) that they are doing something to help the environment.

I believe what Canuck was saying is that most people who believe this, believe so wrongly.

 

[green1]

Lots of people have weighed in now, but I'll just add my 2c...
I am saving up to buy a Model S, I should be there by next spring barring any major catastrophe.
The environment is not a factor at all in my decision. I won't get too much in to politics and such, I'm not stupid, I realize that pollution is bad, but it's just not important to me personally, I believe there are many more things to worry about in this world that are more important than how much CO2 your car puts out (not trying to start a flame war here, just answering the thread title)

I want a Model S because it is the first electric car that has a reasonable (if still too short) range. I want an electric car because they are superior to internal combustion vehicles in every way, lower maintenance, smoother running, better acceleration, not having to visit a gas station (especially important for those of us living in a place that gets as cold as -40!) cheaper fuel, fuel I can generate at home from solar power (again, for financial and independence reasons, not environmental)

Of course the Model S isn't just the first long range electric car, it's also a very practical vehicle in other ways, I love the high tech nature of it, I like that they didn't waste all the space between the front seats with a useless console shift lever or such, I like the huge cargo capacity, and it's also a nice looking car.