Results: The media and lobby groups in North America love to criticize our lack of adoption of EVs. They say "Look at Norway - they love EVs and are banning the sale of gas powered vehicles. We should do the same." Should we? Can we?
Published on 01/30/2024
I see articles suggesting we adopt climate solutions from Europe that omit one glaring fact. We are in North America and things are different here. These differences have had an impact on how we build our cities, our infrastructure, our lifestyles, our attitudes and ultimately our use of resources. As a result, we need solutions that makes sense in North America and should not be sheepishly following the European ones.
QUESTIONS
GO to COMMENTS
Comments
1.
1.
In Europe everything is more compact, distances between towns are shorter, land is expensive, cities were developed haphazardly over centuries, and this makes a North American lifestyle different from a European one except for people who live in cities on the east coast that were also developed haphazardly over centuries. Here are some examples. Which ones do you agree with?
Compact European cities (and the few in North America) can invest more in public transit.
33%
733 votes
When commute distances are short, an EV makes more sense.
35%
780 votes
When relatives live much closer, visiting each other can be by small car or a bus.
35%
762 votes
When cities are more compact, going out for the evening can be by bus or cab
32%
711 votes
In Europe many people manage to do without a personal vehicle and don't even have a license.
36%
787 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
22 votes
Not Applicable
32%
710 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.21% | 8 | |
| Make China and the lefties richer by supporting their fake climate change while child labor runs rampant | 0.03% | 1 |
| Freedom, shove your hoax ! | 0.03% | 1 |
| Not my decision! | 0.03% | 1 |
| north America should simply learn and adapt more European manner, politic, mentality. North American are needy and childish | 0.03% | 1 |
| These are all lousy excuses that hold no water. Europe is doing it right. | 0.03% | 1 |
| Just leave it the way it has always been. Gasoline powered vehicles in the size of you choosing. | 0.03% | 1 |
| No idea? | 0.03% | 1 |
| We can not quite cold turkey as We travel long distances for work and where we live. | 0.03% | 1 |
| public transportation has more options and comes more often (bus, tram, metro, etc) | 0.03% | 1 |
| NO | 0.03% | 1 |
| Europe has a much better public transport system, cars are not a priority | 0.03% | 1 |
| In small and tiny towns (populations as low as 100 people), they have busses and taxis and sidewalks. Here in the USA, you can live in a city with 80,000 and not have a bus system. | 0.03% | 1 |
| It's a misconception that every place in Europe is near, and certainly not in Norway. | 0.03% | 1 |
| Very busy schedules in Europe cause some important set- backs | 0.03% | 1 |
2.
2.
Until comparatively recently the attitude towards vacations also reflected the differences between North America and Europe. Europe might criticize our higher consumption of resources here but there is (still is) a good reason for it. Here are some examples. Which do you agree with?
Our families may be spread out across the country and visiting relatives can be a vacation for many.
41%
911 votes
Europeans fly to different countries for vacations in a different climate. In North America we have almost all climate choices to drive to.
32%
707 votes
Europeans have to go to different countries for vacation entertainment. We can drive across country to get to theme parks for example (and used to do that more often).
31%
673 votes
Our vehicles, their size, our highway system, overnight accommodation, gas stations and food choices all developed to meet the needs of long distance travellers - quite different from Europe.
38%
829 votes
The travel distances for shopping, entertainment, medical treatment, employment are all greater for most of us in North America - as are our means of getting there.
33%
731 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
20 votes
Not Applicable
31%
686 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.15% | 6 | |
| All of the above | 0.05% | 2 |
| It's to get them rich and control you. Our power grid isn't close to being able to handle that. | 0.03% | 1 |
| Europeans frequently travel by bicycle or train, it's not always safe to bicycle in the US and our train-transit options aren't the best. Also I know many Europeans own motorcycles. | 0.03% | 1 |
| Rural areas in America make EVs less practical | 0.03% | 1 |
| nothing justifies the waste and consumption by Americans | 0.03% | 1 |
| north America is young. And refuse to learn from the smart country. USA is tarnishing north America | 0.03% | 1 |
| These excuses are terrible and just show your desperation and ignorance. | 0.03% | 1 |
| But do most of us really do all of these things. I'm not wealthy or even financially stable, so I don't drive much to the store and work. Driving cross country please. | 0.03% | 1 |
| no excuses for North America, sorry, Europe has it better | 0.03% | 1 |
| I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT EUROPE | 0.03% | 1 |
| we have more areas that flood regularly and aren't conducive to safe use of EVs | 0.03% | 1 |
| Incredibly misinformed perceptions of Europe in the options, which is ironic based on the writer's background. | 0.03% | 1 |
| Costs may be more and travel arrangements in advance necessary | 0.03% | 1 |
3.
3.
Our attitude towards distances is also different in north America versus Europe and this has changed our view of the world. Here are some examples you may relate to.
If there is a war or armed conflict, it is not on our doorstep the way it is in Europe (unless Canada launches a surprise attack on the US).
31%
683 votes
When my parents visited from the UK and we picked them up at the airport it was a 4 hour drive each way. We thought nothing of it. After 2 hours my parents asked if we were nearly there because they needed a cup of tea. When I said we were only half way, mother was in shock. Our attitude to distance had adapted from the UK to Canada.
27%
589 votes
On 3 separate occasions we moved over 3,000 miles for job opportunities. We drove there while the movers moved our stuff. It was an enjoyable adventure. If I drove 3,000 miles from my home town of Edinburgh, Scotland I would have gone through many countries and be in Beirut, Lebanon or somewhere even less safe. I would never have done it.
23%
503 votes
Our lives have developed to cope with distances. Some of us stay close to home in big cities that are similar to European ones. Some of us live in sprawling cities where public transit is not preferable to having our own transportation. Many of us regularly drive distances that our European cousins wouldn't dream of and we don't do so frivolously but from necessity.
34%
753 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
20 votes
Not Applicable
39%
862 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.35% | 9 | |
| unsure | 0.04% | 1 |
| all the above | 0.04% | 1 |
| none of these | 0.04% | 1 |
| All of the above. | 0.04% | 1 |
| "Sprawling cities where public transportation is not preferable" WHAT?! Keep stretching so hard and you might pull a muscle. | 0.04% | 1 |
| Most Americans will never give up their gas guzzlers bottom line. This is an exercise in futility. | 0.04% | 1 |
| no excuses for North America, sorry, Europe has it better | 0.04% | 1 |
| I DON'T KNOW | 0.04% | 1 |
| Your job may be in another city | 0.04% | 1 |
| Europeans ride their bikes around alot, which is not something commonly done in North America. | 0.04% | 1 |
| Technological communication may be different/ differences | 0.04% | 1 |
4.
4.
The climate change options being decided and adopted in Europe may meet the needs of Europeans but they only meet the needs of a specific segment of our North American populations. Does it sometimes seem that our politicians are signing climate change accords with a more European mindset than a North American one?
Yes
32%
705 votes
No
12%
256 votes
Undecided
28%
625 votes
Not Applicable
28%
614 votes
5.
5.
To meet the needs of these recently signed climate change accords, will we have to make more drastic changes to our way of life than our cousins in Europe?
Yes
39%
867 votes
No
13%
277 votes
Undecided
21%
460 votes
Not Applicable
27%
596 votes
6.
6.
Are our politicians being irresponsible or just being overly optimistic when they commit us to current climate goals considering the changes to lifestyle required to meet these goals?
Our politicians are being irresponsible.
30%
658 votes
Our politicians are being realistic
9%
195 votes
Our politicians are being responsible.
11%
251 votes
Our politicians are being unrealistic.
28%
618 votes
I believe these goals are important enough that I will change my lifestyle to meet them.
13%
295 votes
I believe these goals are important but such drastic change is not acceptable to me.
13%
276 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
28 votes
Not Applicable
29%
628 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.43% | 10 | |
| I believe some goals are realistic and I am willing to change my lifestyle to meet them | 0.04% | 1 |
| Hogwash- climate is constantly changing- if it did not- we would still be in an ice age. It's all a money grab. | 0.04% | 1 |
| Some politicians are overly optimistic | 0.04% | 1 |
| Unsure | 0.04% | 1 |
| We need more & better ways to meet the goals | 0.04% | 1 |
| we can easily make the changes like Europe | 0.04% | 1 |
| Americans are hard headed like I said before this is an exercise in futility. One politician will make a rule the other will repeal it. It our system of governance (if we can keep it.) | 0.04% | 1 |
| Your personal problems with the advancement of society doesn't make for good survey material. | 0.04% | 1 |
| Please...get over yourself and north america and Europe...........Go to India....the climate change do not exist there...lol....look at their daily polution. | 0.04% | 1 |
| They are not taking into account that many Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, thanks to Biden's inflation, and can not afford to buy an expensive EV. | 0.04% | 1 |
| Playing to their base. | 0.04% | 1 |
| I think politicians are trying to fast track a process in a short amount of time after they ignored climate change warnings way back in the 1980s. | 0.04% | 1 |
| I believe the timing may be difficult | 0.04% | 1 |
| Hoax...steeple rarely look into what really powers electric vehicles | 0.04% | 1 |
| Our politicians are too intrusive in all aspects of our lives. | 0.04% | 1 |
| I believe these goals are important and would change my lifestyle to meet most of them but things such as my long work commute cannot be changed | 0.04% | 1 |
| Some of our politicians are investing in these new technologies and are making money off of EV's and their batteries. | 0.04% | 1 |
| HOAX,ask Elon ? | 0.04% | 1 |
COMMENTS