Getting the Car Out of Carbon Emissions

It appears that the long-awaited electric car revolution is finally upon us. Are you ready? Are you excited? Last week, General Motors officially launched the electric version of the Hummer. The Hummer, of course, is the purposely intimidating sport utility vehicle based on the U.S. military's HumVee. Popularized during America's turn-of-the-century oil wars, the Hummer has long been one the personal vehicles that is most like a gigantic middle finger on four wheels. Weighing almost two tons, with 1,000 horsepower, and 0 to 60 m.p.h. acceleration in three seconds, the 2022 Hummer E.V. begs the question: Are we simply going to try to replicate the toxic male, energy-intensive, automobile-centric, 20th century "American way of life" on electricity rather than gas? Or can we imagine and build something better?  This episode was sponsored by our friends at Cleverhood. For 20% off of stylish, functional rain gear designed specifically for bicycle commuters, enter coupon code: WARONCARS when you check out.  Support The War on Cars on Patreon. Rate and review the podcast on iTunes. Buy a War on Cars t-shirt at Cotton Bureau. Check out The War on Cars library at Bookshop.org. SHOW NOTES:  Listen to Tom Bodett's fantastic personal story, "Inside Passage," on The Moth. You can find more on his "strange, fascinating career" right here. How fast could we transition our transportation system to electricity if we really wanted to? Subscribe to Andrew Salzberg's newsletter, Decarbonizing Transportation and find out. What 'net-zero carbon' really means for cities. And how the City of London is planning to get there by 2050, in part, via Ultra Low Emission Zones. (BBC) The EV Bummer: The Hummer EV may be the "quiet revolution" that GMC's promising — but for all the wrong reasons. (Streetsblog)  Tom is also a co-founder of the non-profit HatchSpace,  dedicated to sharpening an appreciation for the work of human hands through the learning, practice, and teaching of woodworking. (Seven Days) This episode was produced by Aaron Naparstek and edited by Ali Lemer. Our music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. Our logo is by Dani Finkel of Crucial D Design. Find us on Twitter: @TheWarOnCars, Aaron Naparstek @Naparstek, Doug Gordon @BrooklynSpoke, Sarah Goodyear @buttermilk1.  Questions, comments or suggestions? Email us: [email protected] TheWarOnCars.org