# 2007 Ford Explorer - Global warming **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** ford\ **Created:** [December 8, 2018, 6:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-ford-explorer-global-warming/130465 "2018-12-08T18:40:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PatKeller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@PatKeller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PatKeller)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 6:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-ford-explorer-global-warming/130465/1 "2018-12-08T18:40:00Z")
comment - Your article about electric cars is great. However the biggest reason to get one is less of a contribution to global warming. hope to replace our car with an ecar. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 9:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-ford-explorer-global-warming/130465/2 "2018-12-08T21:50:06Z")
> [@PatKeller](#): > > However the biggest reason to get one is less of a contribution to global warming Research the chemicals used to make the batteries, how and where they are mined as well as how your electric power actually is created. A case could (and has been) be made that a small efficient gasoline powered car is actually better for the environment. This is coming not from Ray, but a degreed engineer with 30 + years experience with automobiles and electric powered warehouse vehicles. ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2018, 3:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-ford-explorer-global-warming/130465/3 "2018-12-10T15:00:13Z")
Nobody I know can be bothered to perform a life cycle carbon analysis. Today’s gasoline cars consume 15% of their life cycle energy (i.e. carbon) from manufacturing at the factory level. This from the SAE itself. The other 85% comes from fuel, maintenance and repairs. However, the “upstream” carbon generation needs to be looked at as well. This part is usually ignored. I personally would like to see a “cradle to grave” carbon analysis of the complete cycle. Our family has already met the 2030 United Nations goal of a 30% carbon reduction from the 2005 level. We did this by retrofitted the house, and trading down to 2 smaller cars. Our electrical use has not dropped, but it is offset by the 40% reduction in home and transportation. None of this has affected our lifestyle. As appliances wear out and are replaced with latest high efficiency units we will achieve the 30% in that area as well. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2018, 3:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-ford-explorer-global-warming/130465/4 "2018-12-10T15:08:43Z")
Scientific American published an analysis several years ago that showed over 50% of folks would generate the same or less CO2 with a Prius-type hybrid, instead of an EV, because of how the electricity was generated. With the ongoing shift away from coal, that % has probably dropped, but it’s still far from a black/white choice for EVs. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2018, 4:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-ford-explorer-global-warming/130465/5 "2018-12-10T16:33:51Z")
And then there is this new bit of info… [https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/congo-declares-cobalt-strategic-nearly-tripling-royalty-rate/ar-BBQr09A](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/congo-declares-cobalt-strategic-nearly-tripling-royalty-rate/ar-BBQr09A) Lots of cobalt in the li-Ion batteries used in EV production. > [@Docnick](#): > > Our family has already met the 2030 United Nations goal of a 30% carbon reduction from the 2005 level. Good for you. I’ve insulated and sealed every house I’ve ever owned reducing my energy consumption by 50%, 40% and 15% in 3 homes respectively. The last of the 3 homes was built in 2002 and was fully insulated but leaked air like a screen door. My current, much smaller home, has been reduced by 20% so far with a few projects left to go. My overall energy usage is less than half what it was in 2012 since reducing temps from 95 to 79 F with AC uses FAR less energy than heating from 15 degrees to 70 F. My cars have improved in fuel efficiency with each newer vehicle. I don’t like hybrids - 2 powertrains and energy sources in ONE car? That bothers me. I would consider an EV for one of our cars. But I do it because I am an engineer that hates wasting energy that I have to pay for. ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2018, 7:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-ford-explorer-global-warming/130465/6 "2018-12-10T19:59:41Z")
Oh boy. Did you have to open that can of worms? Click and Clack don’t read these forums.