This is an argument for ebikes, though not the strongest one, I think. The carbon output per mile traveled on an ebike is actually a bit lower than a regular bike because the food you eat has a carbon output. Yes, this includes charging the ebike from a coal power plant.
It does output more CO2 during initial manufacturing, though. Never does quite catch up with a regular bike over their expected lifetime. Both are better than cars and it’s not even close.
Interesting, I never knew that was an argument for ebikes, but as you say, if they never break even it’s a moot point. Unless… Perhaps having the ebikes promoted more cycling over driving, then perhaps it changes it enough.
Totally agree that getting more people to choose cycling over driving should be the focus. The differences in environmental effects between ebikes and regular bikes are small, and the difference between both of them and cars is very large.
This is an argument for ebikes, though not the strongest one, I think. The carbon output per mile traveled on an ebike is actually a bit lower than a regular bike because the food you eat has a carbon output. Yes, this includes charging the ebike from a coal power plant.
It does output more CO2 during initial manufacturing, though. Never does quite catch up with a regular bike over their expected lifetime. Both are better than cars and it’s not even close.
Interesting, I never knew that was an argument for ebikes, but as you say, if they never break even it’s a moot point. Unless… Perhaps having the ebikes promoted more cycling over driving, then perhaps it changes it enough.
Totally agree that getting more people to choose cycling over driving should be the focus. The differences in environmental effects between ebikes and regular bikes are small, and the difference between both of them and cars is very large.