How green are our 914s?, How can we reduce their carbon footprint to preserve the species? Options

[JeffBowlsby]

Just read an intriguing article on CNN about iPhones and the manifestations of their carbon footprint. I don’t consider myself a tree hugger but some things in the article resonated with me.

‘The greenest iPhone is the one you already own’

Made a strong case for the right to repair movement, carbon foot print impacts and reduction, efficiency in labor/natural materials usage, protecting the environment etc, etc. One of the many things about the 914 we enjoy is that unlike many newer commodity cars (which BTW there is a shortage of) is that that we can repair/maintain them ourselves and essential parts are available.

This paradigm applies to our 914s and really all things now considered vintage, old, classic, including all classic cars that still function yet remain serviceable and with many years of service life remaining if but for manageable efforts to maintain. Our current disposable consumer model may be reverting to the former ‘built to last’ model past generations relied on and promoted. Seems like the classic car hobby has been brow beaten for so long when in reality we are in the forefront of being environmentally respectful.

The main thing I think of that is not as environmentally conscious about our cars is emissions. But can those be cleaned up easily enough with a bolt on cat? So Ben, will you develop an exhaust for us with a cat or two?

@mb911

If you want to join this thread PLEASE stay factual and don’t turn political. Just the facts ma’am.

[Chris914n6]

1,000,000,000 (1 Billion) cars make up 4% of global emissions. Nothing we do matters.

If you (we) drove 15,000 miles a year for decades then a cleaner car has value, though still minute in the big picture.

I have a cat because EPA mandates my car pass smog for the newest part, being my engine made in 1997, though in reality it didn't matter.

I also read recently that e10 is 4% cleaner than pure gas. Given all the crap we have to deal with, replacing rubber fuel hoses, fuel pumps, injector seals, aluminum derogation, and greatly reduced MPGs, plus higher cattle feed costs, I say it's not worth it.

On the other hand, rooftop solar reduces our need to burn stuff for electricity which is a bigger win for all life.

[930cabman]

1,000,000,000 (1 Billion) cars make up 4% of global emissions. Nothing we do matters.

If you (we) drove 15,000 miles a year for decades then a cleaner car has value, though still minute in the big picture.

I have a cat because EPA mandates my car pass smog for the newest part, being my engine made in 1997, though in reality it didn't matter.

I also read recently that e10 is 4% cleaner than pure gas. Given all the crap we have to deal with, replacing rubber fuel hoses, fuel pumps, injector seals, aluminum derogation, and greatly reduced MPGs, plus higher cattle feed costs, I say it's not worth it.

On the other hand, rooftop solar reduces our need to burn stuff for electricity which is a bigger win for all life.

If these stats are in fact true and nothing we do matters, there is little discussion.

My gut tells me may only be able to purchase electric vehicles at some point soon, maybe 20 - 30 years. At that point we should have more advanced e- technology.

[Tdskip]

1,000,000,000 (1 Billion) cars make up 4% of global emissions. Nothing we do matters.

If these stats are in fact true and nothing we do matters, there is little discussion.

My gut tells me may only be able to purchase electric vehicles at some point soon, maybe 20 - 30 years. At that point we should have more advanced e- technology.

Respectfully, I don't believe that data is accurate. Transportation is ~26% of the total, with road verticals being a highly significant portion of that at around 60%.

[wonkipop]

1,000,000,000 (1 Billion) cars make up 4% of global emissions. Nothing we do matters.

If these stats are in fact true and nothing we do matters, there is little discussion.

My gut tells me may only be able to purchase electric vehicles at some point soon, maybe 20 - 30 years. At that point we should have more advanced e- technology.

Respectfully, I don't believe that data is accurate. Transportation is ~26% of the total, with road verticals being a highly significant portion of that at around 60%.

yep, think you might be right @Tdskip .

graph from BBC might be a simplification but generally speaking trustworthy.
(figures for jet travel refer to economy class seats, business is by a factor of 4 worse and don't ask re first class - is there such a thing as first class air travel anymore?). whichever way you look at it road transport is a big contributor. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

but the truth is we are not doing many miles.
one plane trip to europe (from aus) return = 1/2 the miles my 914 has done for its entire life as a piece of anachronistic recreational equipment.

i'm not up on the amount of imbedded energy in a car due to manufacturer.
off the top of my head i think it takes something like 10 years to offset that.
but my memory could be out. any car that gets junked under the period where its imbedded energy has been offset is not good. which gets back to mr. b's original point.
the best iphone is the one you have got.