I still wonder where all the 'rubber' comes from to make all the new tyres, since the 'old' rubber is oxidised/vulcanised through use/exposure/flexing/abuse/etc. and is single-use-only for original intended purpose. The steel belting can at least be recovered and re-used like most other scrap metals.
At one point in the value chain there is a massive 'loss' in order to fund the massive profits at the end, and then then profits from commercial-scale recycling. With tyres I'd say it's the actual raw rubber production.
As for electric vehicles (of all types) I like the tech, but the only way to make it work at commercial scale is to 'Chinesium' it. Nearly all solar panels are now made in China. Nearly all EV battery cells are made in China. Every mobile phone is made in China. Tesla doesn't own the battery tech - it's mostly Panasonic cells used in it's battery modules. Thinks like e-bikes (bicycles), electric scooters, even drones, are all made as throw-away items.
Imagine if motor vehicles in the main were designed and built like that to be 'thrown away' after 5 to 20 years? But that's how they're going, especially current EV's which are very much 'immature' examples of future tech.
too true brother, ahmen!
palm oil for example is farmed on mass , forests are cleared to grow palm trees in malaysia. Much the same for rubber trees.
The massive loss is the environment.
I hear folks complain about the chinese. But they only want what other's have had the good fortune to have, car, fridge colour tv. First world nations could exploit the environment 'scot free' in the 50- 60's - 70s, no questions asked. Jacques Cousteau , ocean environmentalist honestly believed that the sea was an unlimited resource. Bob dylan, 'good time to drive a cadillac..after a war'
There is a good documentary series called 'the china century' abc, explains really well, why china is doing what it is doing. I do not know if this can be helped.
But we are in history in the making. After all, imagine if Napolean kept half of the north U.S. in French possession, instead of selling it for 4cents an acre to Jefferson, clever fella! That would have made a different world. The 'Louisiana purchase'.
To be constructive and to have any hope of positivity for the future is to aim at the causes of this short term-ism. Short term-ism is prevalent in our society.
Economists, manufacturers and businesses need to be environmentalist too. I think toyota was good holding back on ev's as they simply considered the tech not to be there. But they have to bow to what the market think they wants unfortunately, if they want to stay in business.
Media has a bigger influence than ever with leading down the wrong roads and mis-information. They aim at lots of quick hits until the next sensation.
Politicians which look longer than their own term need to be chosen.
Think of a gothic cathedral which took at least 3 generations to build, not short term quick buck, they had a bigger reason to make something.
We have to think and pause before consuming anything.
I was looking into tyre recycling machines for awhile, it is not easy or cheap.
Truth is, steel on steel transport is one of the most efficient, trains that is. General motors had a huge hand in getting rid of that as much as possible, along with standard oil, firestone tyres...
Really good book is called 'the prize' the history of oil, standard oil, shell, bp etc and the rape they have done, everywhere.
Takes someone with big testicles to cut through the bs. Oh jeez..can't thank you enough sun for raising the tyre consumption question.
