Carbon tax on carbon frames and components
Today is Carbon Sunday, the govt introduced the so called "carbon tax"
One of my friends raised some good points
1.Consider the environmental impact of a custom steel frame - locally built, 20 years+ lifetime, easily repairable, against a carbon frame that is seen as 'disposable' after say 5 years. That's a big part of the reason I went back to steel.
2.Carbon fibre manufacture is high emission. Higher than any other material used for bicycle construction, taking into account the materials life cycle.
Thoughts, would we see the price of carbon frames and components increased?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Matt Brennan on -
Wouldn't a Carbon bike be a Carbon sink? So you should get some Carbon Credits with your purchase :)
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Permalink Reply by RD6 on -
I am surprised that Abbot being a cyclist himself hadn't thought of this LOL
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Permalink Reply by Martin Turner on -
Not to mention the reduced amount of CO2 expelled by a rider on a CF framed bike hauling himself up a hill as opposed to a rider on a steel frame.
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Permalink Reply by Martin Turner on
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Someone could get their ar*e into gear and set up for recycling CF. A couple of frame manufacturers are doing it.
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Permalink Reply by Roger ... on -
I would have guessed burying a broken carbon frame in landfill is actually putting some carbon back into the ground. Recycling it just uses more carbon
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Permalink Reply by Darren on -
Similar arguments were given to why a Humvee has less environmental impact than a Prius.... based on a 35 year lifetime for the Humvee over a much shorter lifetime for the Prius!
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Permalink Reply by hozozco on -
...and those arguments were found found to be complete bollocks (as I think you're indicating).
However a steel frame bike doesn't use more fuel than a carbon fibre frame bike (a Hummer does use slightly more than a Prius). Actually, it might use a little more, but most people have the fat to spare anyway...
A carbon fibre bike does use considerably more energy to produce and does not last nearly as long as a steel frame.
However, all bikes produce less CO2 than any car - so as long as you're riding it - who cares? Just ride the damn thing.
...and enough about the carbon tax - lets keep politics off AC (unless directly bike related) - lest people starting bring in religion (non bike that is).
Simon
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Permalink Reply by heather on -
Any bicycle would produce less GHG emissions and environmental impact in manufacturing, use and disposal than a motor vehicle.
When comparing the Hummer and Prius, were the vehicle weights taken into account, the road wear, and thus GHG and oil used to maintain roads?
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Permalink Reply by hozozco on
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No. Probably because that would have been in the Prius' favour. The whole study was contrived from the get go to make the Prius look bad.
(disclaimer - I own a Prius)
Any bike is going to be way better than a car. Clearly I'm in favour of more bike usage (I don't ride my cargo bike for the looks!), but there are situations when a bike/public transport just isn't adequate. This is when you need to make environmental choices.
Any bike is an environmental choice - as long as it's ridden.
Simon
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Permalink Reply by Darren on
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It was supposed to be a lifecycle view of the cost. A whole bunch of factors were included - the big one was the environmental cost of digging up the material used in the Prius batteries (they found, BTW, the Honda Civic Hybrid to be better that the Prius as a result). The Humvee was apparently better based on its projected lifespan of 35 years, which is bollocks.
My main point was, yes, would be great to confirm the environmental cost of a CF frame is less when considering production of the base materials (digging up the iron ore, refining/smelting etc versus however they produce carbon fibre and the resins), and while I agree there are 20+ year old steel framed bikes doing the rounds, I'm sure substantially more are at the bottom of Wingfield!
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Permalink Reply by heather on
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Darren, many S/H bikes being donated to the bike co-op. Last weekend a BUG member bought from the co-op a nice red ladies bike with matching mudguards and chain-guard of about 1970s vintage.
I learnt that the first steel bike I bought was awful: heavy; steel wheels did not help braking; unstable if wanting to carry shopping; and the rake made it unstable down Brighton Cement Hill. Gave it to someone to recycle as metal, stressing that it was not to be resurrected as a bike. The second steel bike I bought was damaged by a vehicle and one day might be repaired as a back-up bike.
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