A portion of the recently released by the Environmental Protection Agency reads:
(…) air pollution from motor vehicles continues to impact public health, welfare, and the environment. Motor vehicle emissions contribute to ozone, particulate matter (PM), and air toxics, which are linked with premature death and other serious health impacts, including respiratory illness, cardiovascular problems, and cancer. This air pollution affects people nationwide, as well as those who live or work near transportation corridors. In addition, the effects of climate change represent a rapidly growing threat to human health and the environment, and are caused by GHG emissions from human activity, including motor vehicle transportation. Addressing these public health and welfare needs will require substantial additional reductions in criteria pollutants and GHG emissions from the transportation sector. Recent trends and developments in vehicle technologies that reduce emissions indicate that more stringent emissions standards are feasible at reasonable cost and would lead to significant improvements in public health and welfare.
One method by which the EPA proposes to achieve its goal is by mandating that by 2032, 70% of new vehicles hitting the market should be pure battery-powered electric (EV) or hybrids. Considering that many auto manufacturers are dialing down EV production due to falling demand, the latest push seems out of touch with ground realities.
Not just America, but no country in the world, is ready for such a paradigm shift in transportation. Despite the laudable “trends and developments in vehicle technologies,” the electricity needed to run these “non-polluting” battery-powered vehicles is still primarily generated using coal or natural gas, both fossil fuels.
Hence, even if the cars do not burn gas, the electricity used to power them will not be as ‘clean’ as one would like. Wind and solar power are not dependable sources, and their production varies depending on factors beyond human control.
70% of car sales today translates to 10 million vehicles. The US power grid would have to be scaled up substantially to power ten million electric cars without causing outages. Plus, during winter, battery-powered vehicles lose up to 40% of their range, making them a significantly less viable option for much of the country.
Besides, environmental damage and pollution are inherent in EV manufacturing practices. The battery that runs these fossil fuel-free vehicles comprises carbon and other rare earth minerals. Diana Furchtgott-Roth, director of the Center for Energy, Climate, and Environment at the Heritage Foundation, states:
Mining battery ingredients causes environmental damage. EV batteries weigh about 1,000 pounds and can reach 2,000 pounds. About 100,000 pounds of ore are needed to get the lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, and copper to make the batteries function. To get the 100,000 pounds of ore, it’s necessary to move 500,000 pounds of earth.
While the additional load on the power grid, the time taken to recharge the battery, the limited range of the vehicles, and the scarcity of rare earth are all issues that are often discussed when comparing internal combustion engines to electric-battery-powered vehicles, another matter gets little attention—tire wear.
With the advancements in automobile tech, the vehicles’ tailpipes are no longer the primary source of particulate emissions. Due to more efficient exhaust filters, particulate matter (PM) from exhaust emissions has significantly reduced over the years. Meanwhile, PM emissions from non-exhaust sources have increased in recent years.
According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) iLibrary website:
Non-exhaust particle emissions from road traffic consist of airborne particulate matter (PM) generated by the wearing down of brakes, clutches, tires, and road surfaces, as well as by the suspension of road dust.
It is well known in the automotive world that tire wear emissions are rising as vehicles become heavier. Aggressive driving and additional power only add to the problem. As tires degenerate, they release tiny, often toxic particles. According to a 2022 study, pollution from tire wear is 1,850 times worse than exhaust emissions.
Though EVs enjoy the tag of a “zero emission” mode of transport, their tire wear is equal, if not more than, that of internal combustion engines, as these battery-run vehicles are heavier than their fossil fuel-burning counterparts. Weighing about a third more than the hybrid variants, EVs are estimated to emit roughly one-quarter more particulate matter from tire wear. Policymakers are hoping that EVs will become lighter in the future.
However, with EV manufacturers vying to increase the vehicle’s range and reduce recharge cycles, EVs may use larger batteries, adding to their weight. Should that be the case, the strident move towards EVs would fail to achieve its primary goals —”pollution-free” vehicles and a cleaner environment.
A lesson for Biden. In fiat vs. consumerism, fiat is destined to fail.
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Geopolitics, Geoeconomics, And More
1. U.S. Proposes Hostage-To-Prisoner Ratio In Gaza Truce Talks: Israeli Official – Reuters
The U.S. has made a “bridging proposal” for the number of jailed Palestinians that Israel should release in exchange for every hostage freed by Hamas in any new Gaza truce, an Israeli official briefed on the Qatar-hosted talks said.
An Israeli delegation led by Mossad chief David Barnea is in Doha for indirect negotiations with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which CIA director William Burns is helping Qatari and Egyptian officials to mediate.
The United States put a bridging proposal on the table, to which Israel responded positively. Hamas’ response is pending.
2. Israeli FM Calls U.N.’ Anti-Israeli Body’ As Guterres Visits Gaza Border – AFP
Israel’s foreign minister said the United Nations had become an “anti-Israeli body” under Antonio Guterres, as the U.N. chief called for a ceasefire on a visit to Gaza’s border Saturday.
Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on X:
Under his leadership, the U.N. has become an anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli body that shelters and emboldens terror.
3. Russia’s Fresh Assault On Ukraine Prompts Poland To Scramble Jets – WION
Russia’s aerial assault in Ukraine prompted neighboring Poland’s armed forces to scramble jets to ensure airspace safety near the border. It has been reported that Russia’s missiles flew close to the border of the NATO country.
Russia has doubled down on its military offensive against Poland as revenge for Ukrainian attacks during its recent presidential election.
4. Kyiv Denies Putin’s Claims Concert Attackers Were Fleeing To Ukraine – Al Arabiya
The death toll in the attack at a music hall in Moscow – where gunmen opened fire on concertgoers – surpassed 130, and Russian authorities arrested four suspects. President Vladimir Putin claimed they were captured while fleeing to Ukraine.
Kyiv strongly denied any involvement in Friday’s assault on the Crocus City Hall music venue, and the Islamic State group’s Afghanistan affiliate claimed responsibility.
Putin did not mention ISIS in his speech to the nation, and Kyiv accused him and other Russian politicians of falsely linking Ukraine to the assault to stoke fervor for Russia’s war in Ukraine.
5. Experts Say ISIS Claim For Russia Attack Is Credible, Call Escape Plan Unusual – Al Arabiya
A claim of responsibility by ISIS for a massacre of Russian concertgoers near Moscow appears to be plausible and fits with a pattern of previous marauding attacks by militants, security analysts said.
However, according to one leading expert, it was unusual and striking that the assailants had formed and executed an escape plan instead of pursuing their rampage to the point of being gunned down.
6. Taliban Strongly Condemns Moscow Concert Hall Attack – RFE/RL
Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers have issued a stark condemnation of the March 22 attack on a Moscow concert venue that left at least 115 dead and wounded more than 100 others.
The Taliban Foreign Ministry “condemns in the strongest terms the recent terrorist attack in Moscow… claimed by Daesh & considers it a blatant violation of all human standards,” ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi wrote on X, referring to the Islamic State (I.S.) extremist organization by its Arabic acronym.
7. E.U. To Use Russian Assets For Ukraine – AFP
EU leaders agreed to “take work forward” on a plan to use the profits from frozen Russian central bank assets to arm Ukraine, as Kyiv pleaded for more ammunition for its outgunned forces.
The proposal, at the heart of talks between leaders at a summit in Brussels, could unlock some 3 billion euros ($3.3 billion) a year for Kyiv — once given a final green light.
8. Philippines Accuses China Of New Water Cannon Attacks In South China Sea – Al Jazeera
Manila has accused China’s coastguard of firing a water cannon at one of its supply boats in the latest incident between the two countries in the disputed South China Sea.
The Philippine military said the Saturday morning confrontation lasted for nearly an hour and took place as it sought to resupply a small garrison of sailors on board the sunken Sierra Madre off Second Thomas Shoal.
The shoal, known as Ayungin in the Philippines, has been the site of multiple similar stand-offs in recent months.
9. China Slams The U.S. For Interfering In Border Dispute With India – CNBC
China slammed the United States for interfering in its border dispute with India after Washington said it recognized the disputed Arunachal Pradesh as a part of Indian territory.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a news conference in Beijing:
China strongly deplores and firmly opposes this. The China-India boundary question is a matter between the two countries and has nothing to do with the U.S. side.
10. Victor Li ‘Prays’ Hong Kong Can Keep Global Financial Center Status – RFA
Victor Li, chairman of Hong Kong’s Cheung Kong Holdings, says he “prays” that the city will not lose its international financial center status as the international backlash mounts with the passing of the more expansive second national security law.
Hong Kong is the world’s fourth most competitive financial center, trailing Singapore which has taken over the third spot from Hong Kong since September 2022, according to the latest edition of the Global Financial Centres Index by Z/Yen Group and the China Development Institute.
11. Houthi Militants To Allow Safe Passage For Chinese And Russian Ships: Report – Foreign Desk News
The decision, reportedly made after trilateral discussions in Oman, formalizes a policy made by the Houthis in January to provide protection for the Islamist group’s two powerful allies, according to a Bloomberg report.
Sources said that in exchange for the concession, Beijing and Moscow will provide political support for the sanctioned organization, including coverage resulting from their senior positions as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.
12. U.N. Report: Growing Water Scarcity A Threat To Global Peace And Security – UPI
The United Nations urged the settling of conflict over access to water by greater international cooperation and transnational agreements, warning that rising tensions over scarce resources are a threat to world peace.
“Hot zones” especially vulnerable to interstate tensions over water include Africa and the Middle East, according to the U.N. World Water Development Report 2024. In Africa, 19 out of 22 states studied suffer from water scarcity, and two-thirds of the continent’s freshwater resources are transboundary.
13. U.S. Citizens Flee Haiti As Gang Violence Escalates Further – UPI
American citizens continue to flee Haiti as gang violence picks up across the island nation, with no immediate foreign military aid expected to arrive to help the country’s beleaguered police force.
A government-chartered flight carrying 80 U.S. citizens landed in Miami Thursday as those who had been holding out in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince relinquished hope the situation would improve.
14. Faced With An Election Ban, Venezuela Opposition Leader Names Alternate – Al Jazeera
Maria Corina Machado, the opposition leader in Venezuela’s upcoming presidential election, has thrown her support behind an alternate candidate as she continues to face a ban from running for office.
She named the 80-year-old historian and professor Corina Yoris to be her replacement in the July 28 race.
The announcement came as the administration of President Nicolas Maduro received international condemnation for its alleged pressure campaign against Machado.
15. U.S. Life Expectancy Improves Despite Record-High Overdose Deaths – UPI Health
As the pandemic wound down, life expectancy in the United States began to bounce back in 2022, although deaths among children increased and drug overdose deaths continued to reach record highs, new government research shows.
Final data for 2022 was published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It showed that a 1.1-year increase brought overall life expectancy at birth to 77.5 years.
Republished with permission from TIPP Insights
