Electric Buses Are Hurting the Oil Industry

Is this a submarine PR ad for the Chinese government? Not to take away from the objective positivity of the actual facts, but it feels eerily cheerleady. Almost childish, if nothing else… I count at least five pointless “ha ha look who’s laughing now” and “China is leading the world” in this, and a surprising lack of counterbalance. Perhaps I’m just seeing things?

But yes: great.

Re: Electric Buses Are Hurting the Oil Industry

#6

Post by kingvash » Wed, Apr 25, 2018, 12:10 AM UTC

dver wrote: post #3

Working at Proterra, we're doing our part.

I see they're being used in Seattle :)

Re: Electric Buses Are Hurting the Oil Industry

#7

Post by losteric » Wed, Apr 25, 2018, 12:10 AM UTC

nothrabannosir wrote: post #5

Is this a submarine PR ad for the Chinese government? Not to take away from the objective positivity of the actual facts, but it feels eerily cheerleady. Almost childish, if nothing else… I count at least five pointless “ha ha look who’s laughing now” and “China is leading the world” in this, and a surprising lack of counterbalance. Perhaps I’m just seeing things? But yes: great.

I think you are seeing things. China is mentioned because they had the worst pollution problems, seriously invested in electric, and are now realizing the payoff. The numbers support the narrative.

Re: Electric Buses Are Hurting the Oil Industry

#8

Post by sfifs » Wed, Apr 25, 2018, 12:12 AM UTC

While the reducing pollution piece is captured here, interestingly the reducing oil imports dependency is not captured in the article which I would imagine is equally important here.

Re: Electric Buses Are Hurting the Oil Industry

#9

Post by Endama » Wed, Apr 25, 2018, 12:14 AM UTC

I think few people know that a bunch of public transit was actually electric in the early/mid 20th century. Car companies, most notably GM, conspired to convert public transport to gas to make public transit less comfortable compared to private car ownership[1].

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_streetcar_consp...

Re: Electric Buses Are Hurting the Oil Industry

#10

Post by contingencies » Wed, Apr 25, 2018, 12:19 AM UTC

losteric wrote: post #7

nothrabannosir wrote: post #5

Is this a submarine PR ad for the Chinese government? Not to take away from the objective positivity of the actual facts, but it feels eerily cheerleady. Almost childish, if nothing else… I count at least five pointless “ha ha look who’s laughing now” and “China is leading the world” in this, and a surprising lack of counterbalance. Perhaps I’m just seeing things? But yes: great.

I think you are seeing things. China is mentioned because they had the worst pollution problems, seriously invested in electric, and are now realizing the payoff. The numbers support the narrative.

Shenzhen resident here. Every time a large petroleum vehicle goes past I hear it. On the other side of the block there is a bus depot - totally silent - all Shenzhen buses and 50% of taxis are now electric. It's great.