[Robotbeat]

I think getting an electric car is even lower hanging. No change in lifestyle, a similar total cost of ownership, but a factor of 2.5-3x lower emissions with even the current grid (and effectively zero emissions in the future grid we'll need anyway).

(Plus now you can go on emissions-free road trips.)

[lorenzhs]

Replacing something that still works and isn’t all that old with a new, more energy-efficient product rarely yields a net reduction in emissions. That new thing need to be produced, and production is often a major component of lifecycle emissions.

[Robotbeat]

I understand the Jevons paradox. However, unlike hybrids, electric cars allow complete elimination of emissions. It's a totally different animal, and it avoids the Jevons paradox while also allowing near-term emissions reduction. It's at least 2.5x better. You're not going to drive 2.5x more.

[abootstrapper]

Low hanging fruit, assuming you can afford to purchase a new car. Soooo, not so low hanging for a lot of people.

[Robotbeat]

Low hanging fruit assuming you can afford a decent used car. I bought both of my EVs used for $10k apiece (and will save about half of those amounts in gas and maintenance costs...). I see lots of people driving around very large vehicles which, new or used, they probably don't absolutely require and which have both high upfront costs and high operating costs.

I think you'd have more of a point if most people were driving around subcompact beaters.

And remember the context was about someone who can already afford to fly regularly (potentially even overseas), in which case switching to an electric car--if they even require a car--is almost certainly feasible.

[notJim]

Electric cars come with a number of tradeoffs that make them harder to incorporate than skipping a few flights, IMO. If you're single, you don't have a road-trip car anymore (because you only own one car, and a $10k EV is not great for road trips). If you live in an apartment, there's often nowhere to charge the electric car, or you have to buy a parking spot in your building which is expensive AF and limited. A lot of the cheaper EVs feel cheap, which is another sacrifice.

[Robotbeat]

My Volt is $10k (actually you can get them for as low as $6k now) and is great for road trips. It doesn’t feel cheap.

There are already fantastic options for EVs. Almost anyone who buys new could get one. At very least a nice plug in hybrid.