Article about electric vehicles

[Ken]

9 posts to turn a topic of electric cars into yet another post talking about Seattle’s zoning.

Just an illustration to point out that horses were, in fact, banned in cities and accommodations for cars were mandated by the 1920s. I’m sure the same thing happened in cities in Ohio. It was a much faster and more significant transition by far than the current one from gas to electric.

[Judas Maccabeus]

One of the main reasons for why the Pennsylvania Railroad was electrified about that time was to reduce coal pollution from so many steam engines in the big cities.

Actually, it was simply because they could not use the tunnels into NYC

[Ken]

One of the main reasons for why the Pennsylvania Railroad was electrified about that time was to reduce coal pollution from so many steam engines in the big cities.

Actually, it was simply because they could not use the tunnels into NYC

Tunnels but NYC also banned steam locomotives in Manhattan due to smoke, especially after a major train wreck with 15 fatalities after coal smoke obscured the track signals. See the Kauffman Act which banned steam locomotives in NYC: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaufman_Act

[ken_sylvania]

You laugh. But take Seattle. The current single family zoning restrictions covering most of the city that were written in 1923 prohibit horses on any lot smaller than 20,000 square feet. The average size residential lot in Seattle is 5,000 square feet. You would need to buy a block of four houses side by side and tear down 3 of them in order to keep a horse according to the Seattle zoning code. On the other hand, every house built in 1923 came with a garage or at least a driveway or alleyway for car access. That is about as close to a legal mandate to use a car instead of a horse as you can get.

So basically the regulation followed the market - by 1923 cars were more common than horses already.

[temporal1]

So basically the regulation followed the market - by 1923 cars were more common than horses already.

Yes.
Brakes were not invented before wheels.
Interstates were not built before motor vehicles.
Sobriety tests were not invented before alcoholic drinks were abused.

Presently, the world is trying to figure out how to regulate and live with the internet.

Self-serving billionaires would do well to learn humility. Improbable, possibly impossible.

Science FOLLOWS God, it does not lead.

9 posts to turn a topic of electric cars into yet another post talking about Seattle’s zoning.

And, how lib gov spending (of everyone’s combined tax dollars) and decision-making is The Way, The Truth, The Life.
So nice. So neat. If-only it were true.

2023 / The problem with liberal-progressive lawmakers
viewtopic.php?t=5668

[Judas Maccabeus]

EVs aren't mandated either. What some people are calling a mandate is simply a pollution or emissions standard that can be met with any low emissions technology, not just EVs.

They are, in fact, mandated, since you will not be able to buy one after 2035. Do not let them talk you into “historic” plates either. They can ban them with no new legislation.

Welcome to the people’s republic of Maryland.

[Judas Maccabeus]

One of the main reasons for why the Pennsylvania Railroad was electrified about that time was to reduce coal pollution from so many steam engines in the big cities.

Actually, it was simply because they could not use the tunnels into NYC

Tunnels but NYC also banned steam locomotives in Manhattan due to smoke, especially after a major train wreck with 15 fatalities after coal smoke obscured the track signals. See the Kauffman Act which banned steam locomotives in NYC: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaufman_Act

The only trackage that the Penny had in NYC was the “north tunnels” and Penn Station.” You are correct about the Kauffman act, but the other main reason was the ability to use MU cars, that have far lower maintenance than steam, and accelerate way faster.

[Ken]

Actually, it was simply because they could not use the tunnels into NYC

Tunnels but NYC also banned steam locomotives in Manhattan due to smoke, especially after a major train wreck with 15 fatalities after coal smoke obscured the track signals. See the Kauffman Act which banned steam locomotives in NYC: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaufman_Act

The only trackage that the Penny had in NYC was the “north tunnels” and Penn Station.” You are correct about the Kauffman act, but the other main reason was the ability to use MU cars, that have far lower maintenance than steam, and accelerate way faster.

NYC wasn't the only major city that was trying to regulate smoke from steam locomotives at the turn of the century. Coal smoke was a problem in every major city and electrification was seen as the solution. Later diesel-electrics came to dominate American railroads because it was an easier conversion. Diesel locomotives are actually just electric locomotives with a diesel powered electrical generator. The actual motors on diesel locomotives are electric and the diesel engine is just there to generate electricity.

The larger point is that the US has been regulating modes of transportation and propulsion for well over a century. Electric car mandates are nothing new under the sun. We have been regulating vehicle pollution since the very early 1900s.