Ch 18: The cost of travel
Written and designed by volunteers: Mikaella G, Gabriel M, Maryem K, Geetansh D, Payton H
Cars vs public transit: emissions compared
Public transit, such as buses and trains, significantly reduces environmental impact by using far less space per passenger than cars, easing urban congestion and freeing land for greener uses. While cars offer convenience, they heavily contribute to pullution and require extensive parking, worsening environmental strain. Choosing public transit over cars promotes sustainabilty, despite transit's less flexible schedules, making it a vital step toward a cleaner urban future. For instance, buses and trains use 10-15 times less road space than cars to transport 60 passengers and can reduce C02 emissions by 50-90% per passenger-mile compared to solo car trips.
The rise of electric vehicles
Electric Vehicles (EVs) are cars that run entirely on electricity instead of petrol, producing zero tailpipe emissions and offering a cleaner, more sustainable alternative for the environment. Tesla has been a pioneer in this revolution, creating innovative and fast models like the Model 3 and Model S that are changing how people think about driving. Charging EVs is convenient, whether at home or at Tesla’s network of superchargers. These vehicles use lithium-ion batteries, which usually last between 8 and 15 years, but need to be recycled properly. Recycling not only reduces harmful waste but also allows valuable materials to be recovered, contributing to a more environmentally friendly future.
Aviation and its carbon footprint
Many modes of traveling exist, but nothing is as convenient as a plane ride to cover larger distances. However, these conveniences come with a heavy toll, as flying is one of the most carbon-intensive activities. Due to their engines burning fossil fuels, planes release extreme amounts of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Furthermore, planes leave behind contrails throughout their journey, which play a leading role in climate change, as these trails store excessive amounts of heat. It is nearly impossible to eliminate the use of airplanes, and further enhancements have yet to prove successful.
Greener travel choices
Using so much carbon and other greenhouse gases is just one of the ways that humans are hurting the enviroment. Some ways that we can help lower that is making greener choices with our traveling options. For example, trains, airplanes, and electric cars are great examples of ways that we can be helping the evironment by making greener choices.
