Gas lawn equipment is horrible for health – here’s how these cities are fixing it
A new interactive mapping tool shows how a growing number of US cities and states have passed regulations restricting the use of gas-powered lawn equipment, or incentivizing the use of electric equipment, with big clean air benefits for a comparatively small investment.
While gas lawn equipment use may seem like it’s not all that big a deal at first glance, gas leafblowers and lawnmowers can actually extremely bad for air and human health – sometimes moreso than cars.
The issue is that “small off-road engines” (SOREs) usually don’t include any sort of pollution controls, and are often dirtier two-stroke engines that create more power in a small package, but emit orders of magnitude more pollution in the form of unburned particulates from the incomplete combustion process they undergo when compared to four-stroke engines.
As a result, running a gas leaf blower for an hour can produce more emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and reactive organic gases (ROG) than driving a small passenger car 1,000 miles. The car still has plenty of other impacts – higher carbon emissions and energy use, contribution to sprawl and land use, oil dependency and so on – but for these specific smog-forming pollutants, SOREs have a major impact.
It’s gotten to the point where California regulators at one point said that gas lawn equipment was responsible for more NOx + ROG emissions statewide than passenger cars did. And in Colorado, lawn & garden equipment contributes about a third as much ozone as the Colorado’s large oil & gas industry, or also about a third as much as all on-road vehicles combined (including heavy duty trucks).
This pollution doesn’t just form smog and harm human health, but when it happens in residential areas as it often does, it can directly pollute the air of the homes nearby – and operators, of course, have to breathe it every day. Not only that, but the rumbling noise of lawn equipment can create quite a nuisance in residential areas, especially with the rising popularity of working from home.
As a result of all of this, regulators in many states and cities have recognized that restrictions on gas lawn equipment can give outsized air quality benefits for relatively little cost or disruption, and that’s exactly what they’ve done in many places across the country, according to a new analysis by U.S. PIRG.
The new interactive mapping tool was created by U.S. PIRG, a public interest advocacy group which focuses on a number of issues, including environment and clean air.
It shows that cities in 26 states have passed some sort of restriction on use of gas lawn equipment, or incentive to swap to electric. As you might expect, California and Colorado are leading the way here, but plenty of other states and cities have something available, including some that aren’t always known for defending clean air on the state level (like, for example, Texas),
These restrictions take several forms. From California’s statewide ban on sale of new gas lawn equipment, to city restrictions on gas leaf blowers or on any equipment over a certain noise level, to municipal use of electric equipment, or simply incentives to encourage swapping out gas for electric.
Thankfully, there are better options available these days, and they’re quite cheap compared to the outsized air quality benefits they produce.
Electric lawn equipment has improved dramatically in recent years, offering lower noise, no emissions, and just as much power as gas-powered versions. Units are often available at a similar price as gas versions, and not only that, there are incentives available to replace gas models with electric ones.
Some of the locations on the above map have focused on an incentive approach rather than limitations. So in places that have boneheadedly made it illegal for local governments to restrict the use of gas leaf blowers like Texas has, cities like Austin and Dallas have nevertheless instituted incentive campaigns to help their residents and encourage switching over.
US PIRG’s page describes several policies that cities or states can implement to help reduce the impacts of these small polluting engines, and residents can certainly talk to their representatives and encourage movement on this issue.
And if you’re looking to get yourself some gas lawn equipment, keep an eye out for Electrek’s “Green Deals” posts where deals come up quite frequently. And check with your state or regional clean air regulator to see if any rebates are available – here’s California’s page and here’s Colorado’s, but as you can see from the map, there are incentives available elsewhere too.
Another way to help clear the air is to install rooftop solar panels, and cut your reliance on fossil fuel electricity from the grid. Find a reliable and competitively priced solar installer near you on EnergySage, for free. They have pre-vetted installers competing for your business, ensuring high-quality solutions and 20-30% savings. It’s free, with no sales calls until you choose an installer. Compare personalized solar quotes online and receive guidance from unbiased Energy Advisers. Get started here. – ad*
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
People are angry, cars aren’t selling, and now for the first time ever Volkswagen is likely to close one of its factories in Europe – the state-of-the-art Brussels plant that makes the Audi Q8 E-Tron.
Back in September, Volkswagen-owned Audi said that it wanted to stop production on the Q8 E-Tron – an €80,000 electric SUV that barely anyone in Europe can afford – and put the factory up for sale. Meanwhile, VW has been looking for investors or other workarounds, with the company now saying that none of the 26 interested parties offered any viable solutions for the future of the plant, as reported by Automotive News Europe.
An internal search within the company for future car production or alternative uses for the plant was also deemed fruitless, according to the report. “It is important to me that we quickly create clarity in the information and consultation process and now focus further on the social plan discussions,” Audi COO Gerd Walker told Automotive News Europe. “We will continue to pursue this in a trusting, objective, and fair manner.”
For one, we can’t overlook the dismal sales numbers for the Q8 E-Tron, with the 120,000-vehicle-capacity plant reaching its peak in 2022 with 47,900 cars, compared to 37,400 Q8 E-Trons last year. This year, Audi has delivered 23,900 vehicles.
But other issues have also plagued the Belgian plant. For one, it is located on a railway line, making expansion impossible, and there is no body shop on site, meaning imported body components have to be supplied from other plants. The successor to the Q8 be made in Mexico, and Audi doesn’t plan to move any new models to the Belgian plant.
The 3,000 factory workers employed there will likely lose their jobs, which is stirring up pushback from unions that argue that the company is too resistant to consider other offers. “The only thing they want to do is close the plant as quickly as possible.,” said Ronny Liedts of the ACV-CSC union, as quoted in Automotive News Europe. “None of the alternatives work for them.”
Last month, huge rallies blocked the Belgian capital over the potential closing of the plant, with unions warning of further strikes and protests. Now, the factory has become a symbol for what protestors say is the real problem: It’s not that people don’t want to drive EVs, it’s that European automakers are focusing on large SUVs that the average person can’t afford.
“Car manufacturers wanted to make big profits with electric vehicles right away and did not accept that the transition phase would generate fewer dividends and profits,” Hillal Sor, a trade unionist at Metallos FGTB, told Euronews. “So they bet everything on large, very luxurious, very expensive models that European citizens cannot afford.”
Sales figures back this up: The first eight months of this year, some 902,000 electric cars were purchased in the European Union, representing only 12.6% of the total number sold. To support the EV transition, unions say that are pushing for more public funds. The European Parliament agreed last month to consider tariffs on Chinese EVs and other protectionist measures are on the table.
Meanwhile, VW’s massive production overcapacity at its German sites is forcing the company to consider, for the first time ever, closing a factory on its own home turf.
If you’re an electric vehicle owner, charge up your car at home with rooftop solar panels. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing on solar, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –ad*
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
San Diego-based Beam Global’s (Nasdaq: BEEM) new solar-powered BeamWell water desalination and e-mobility delivery system provides clean drinking water, electricity, and mobility for crisis zones.
The clean tech innovator’s system is built on its patented EV ARC platform, a 100% renewable, transportable, off-grid EV charging option. It’s self-sufficient, portable, and ready for use in war zones, remote areas, or disaster-stricken regions where clean water is either unavailable or disrupted.
The BeamWell system delivers three vital services: First, it turns seawater into fresh water, storing it in a built-in 3,000-liter tank that gets refilled daily. Second, it generates electricity, which can be used for medical equipment, communication devices, cooking, or lighting. Third, it includes four Benzina Zero electric mopeds for quickly distributing food, water, medicine, and other essential supplies.
Desmond Wheatley, CEO of Beam Global, highlighted the importance of BeamWell in response to an increasing number of humanitarian emergencies. “We’re seeing more wars and natural disasters, like recent hurricanes in the US, becoming all too common,” said Wheatley. “Forty percent of the world’s population lives near the sea in areas prone to natural disasters. With BeamWell, we’re addressing three core needs in crisis situations – clean water, power, and mobility to distribute aid. Beam Global is on a mission to make a real difference for those who are suffering.”
The BeamWell system is fully self-contained and can be moved by shipping container, deploying in minutes without needing any construction, electrical work, or infrastructure. It’s designed to relocate as needed, depending on the availability of water supplies. Powered by Beam Global’s EV ARC technology – which has been deployed thousands of times around the world – the system uses solar power to produce renewable energy, desalinate water, and provide electricity for vital aid operations.
The need for clean water in crisis areas is stark. Recent reports estimate that 60 million people in the Middle East and North Africa lack access to safe drinking water. In Gaza, as of October 2024, nearly 2.3 million residents are struggling with a severe water crisis due to damaged infrastructure. This lack of clean water is fueling a public health emergency, with waterborne diseases spreading rapidly. Aid supplies, including water, are far below what’s needed to serve the population, and many organizations face ongoing challenges delivering consistent support amid the conflict.
Beam Global is wrapping up plans for deployment, with the first BeamWell systems expected to be delivered to the Middle East soon, in collaboration with global aid organizations.
Read more: These solar + wind + storage EV chargers replace streetlights
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
A Chinese maker of inexpensive TVs you’ll find at Walmart or on Amazon is launching a new family hatchback EV designed to rival the VW ID.3, Cupra Born, and BYD Dolphin. So far, it looks like the real deal.
A host of Chinese brands that you’ve likely never heard of have been unveiling new EVs at this week’s Paris auto show – which has made a big comeback this year after a major lull post-COVID. Among them is a newcomer to the scene: Skywell, a brand better known for cheap electronics. Well, it’s sort of a newcomer, since the brand trades as Skyworth in Europe, and Skyworth is a major electronics brand in China. As for the brand name Skywell, the company has already launched a vehicle outside of China this year dubbed the BE11 midsize electric SUV. But now we’re seeing both names on this car, so it’s not clear.
In any case, Skywell, or Skyworth, is now unveiling the Q, which is expected to go on sale throughout Europe next year and be, to no surprise, “competitively priced.” Measuring 4.3m long, the vehicle probably won’t turn a lot of heads, but it’s clean, modern, and squarely placed in the family car segment. Two battery options will be available, and while detailed specs aren’t yet available, the larger pack offers a combined range of over 300 miles, which makes it a good option for longer drives.
DC fast charging should give you a 10% to 80% recharge in 20 minutes. The 204hp front-mounted motor will enable what it claims is 0-62mph time in 3.9 seconds – that’s a lot quicker than the BYD Dolphin Comfort, which can do the same in seven seconds.
The Q also offers 18-inch alloy wheels, a large “Skyroof” on some models, and an infotainment system with a large 15.6-inch touchscreen display. It also comes equipped with a Mezt sound system and eight speakers, wireless connectivity, and touchscreen displays for the folks in the rear seats. Plus a host of other features is included, such as a 360-degree panoramic parking camera, autonomous braking systems, lane keep assist, and intelligent speed assist. And it comes with a seven-year, 100K-mile warranty and an eight-year 155K-mile warranty for the battery.
While we’ll have to see how this all plays out in real life, the Q looks like it could be a real contender to the EV space, at least from the photos. And of course, for the record, BYD got its start in making mobile phones, and Geely, which owns Volvo, made refrigerator parts.
Photos: Skywell
If you’re an electric vehicle owner, charge up your car at home with rooftop solar panels. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing on solar, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –ad*
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports6 months agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports12 months agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Environment1 year agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business2 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway