I hate this timeline.

[chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca]

@MilitaryG @Space_Burger_Steve but there *were* other options like massive expansion in the use of electrified mass transit, and electrification of many other aspects of lives, buildings, etc. SO much could have already been done.

[space_burger_steve@mstdn.ca]

@MilitaryG @chris

Which is why I mentioned fuel cells. That's probably also why W was talking about Hydrogen. Batteries are better than fuel cells now, but in the mid 90's fuel cells looked like the better option for cars. In fact, the company I mentioned is still making fuel cells today, apparently they're great for busses:

Just a moment...

(www.richmond-news.com)

Even without fuel cells, DC electric locomotives have existed since 1837, AC since 1894. We could have made much more progress than we have in the last 30 years.

[space_burger_steve@mstdn.ca]

@MilitaryG @chris

The first DC locomotive was built in 1837, AC in 1896. The first electric car was built in 1834, and in 1900 38% of the cars in America were electric. No way was an electric car impossible in 1996.

The first electric car: history and origins from 1834 to today

Discover the history of the first electric car: from pioneers Anderson and Davenport in 1834 to the Jamais Contente's record in 1899. A look back at a French invention.

Electra (www.go-electra.com)

And even if it was, that's why I mentioned fuel cells, which is probably what W was talking about when he mentioned hydrogen. Batteries are better now, but in the 90s fuel cells looked like the better option. In fact, the company I mentioned is still making fuel cells today, apparently they're a good alternative to diesel for busses:

Just a moment...

(www.richmond-news.com)

We could have made way more progress than we have in the last 30 years.

[chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca]

@Space_Burger_Steve @MilitaryG GM released the first “modern” production North American electric car, the EV1, in 1996.

Then they killed it.

General Motors EV1 - Wikipedia

(en.wikipedia.org)

We are in the predicament we are because of very specific choices by very particular people and nothing more.

[floreana@poliversity.it]

@chris
While I don't hope for war to go on, I do wish the few smart governments that still exist will get the message and adapt accordingly.

[chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca]

@floreana me too

[zazzoo@mstdn.ca]

@chris In the current globalized world order, countries at war are still dependent on one another's trade. Murder is permitted, of course. You can bomb schools and hospitals and commit outright genocides - but its the interruption of a supply chain gets treated as a war crime.

[chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca]

@zazzoo sick, isn't it.

[de_minimis@infosec.exchange]

@zazzoo @chris
It is argued that Germany lost WWI due to attacking all of its food suppliers.They starved themselves into submission. Can't have that happen again, I guess.

[gatesvp@mstdn.ca]

@zazzoo @chris

There's been some serious economics research into this. And oddly, supply chain interruptions are often more deadly than the event itself.

US sanctions regimes have cut off tens of millions of people (if not hundreds) from essential medicines or treatments. Or access to sufficient food.

They see similar things in disaster zones. A very limited number of people typically die in the hurricane or the flood. Most of the deaths come afterwards when people can't get medical attention or essential food supplies are cut off.

In no way does this justify shooting people, that's also terrible.

But with the straight of Hormuz cut off. That lack of fertilizer and fuel could represent far more death outside of Iran than inside it.

[karlheinzhaslip@climatejustice.social]

@chris seeing missiles hit oil refineries gives me complicated feelings. They need to be dismantled. Controlled demolition would have been nicer, but who am I to complain about the rapid and messy approach, given that there was no chance to do the slow and careful demolition?

[cameron29@mastodon.social]

@chris that would be a cool project to do when my current car end up needing to be replaced.

[icooiey@mastodon.green]

@MilitaryG @Space_Burger_Steve @chris Connecticut has had pumped hydro storage since 1929. Still operational. Obviously not a battery solution possible everywhere, but certainly could have been more widely adopted to address the battery “problem.”

[chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca]

@cameron29 I wanted to do it to my old family 1976 Fiat Spider but it wasn’t to be and it went to the scrapper instead.

To be a serious we need to create a recycling and conversion industry in Canada!