Hey team! Thanks for the understanding and thoughtful comments! I know it's not the typical video for a channel about sustainability but I think it's important to chat about. Ya'll are the best. ❤️
It’s not typical, which is great. We don’t look up to you for being perfect. We look up to you for the transparency you give, for the information that you provide. Thanks y’all!
It's a conversation that needed to be had. Some of us need cars and we feel guilty about it as we are trying to be sustainable as we can but needs must sometimes! Thanks for the video
Thanks so much for sharing this. We too are in the similar situation with questions of sustainability and vehicle purchasing. We live in the country. If I knew your email address, I would ask this there, however, I will try to ask this in an awkward way here. We were wondering if you could share a video with some insight into house building/appliances/flooring/household appointments (e.g. plumbing and electrical fixtures). We are going to be building our small (not tiny) home next year. We have been out trying to find sustainability “friendly” items, at a fair price and it’s a challenge. What have you found while buying these for your condo? Did you choose your condo builder because some of these items were sustainably sourced? What have you found regarding building “needs” and sustainability? Our house is designed specially to be as eco friendly as we are able to make it. The architect has done a great deal of work with us and the builder with regard to insulation, passive solar, building materials to be used, choices of doors and windows, etc. However, now we have started to research the plumbing and lighting fixtures, and the appliances, and other “decorative”/necessary elements of the build (light fixtures, switches from China, door knobs from the States, etc.) and we are so surprised by how much of a carbon footprint the purchase of these are going to use. We live near Ottawa but a lot of the items are coming from the US, China, and other countries. We thought we were buying Canadian products only to find that the distributor or assembly is Canadian but the product is all foreign parts. I’m not trying to be politically “nationalistic” about this. I just want to find more Canadian or locally made, or even foreign sustainably produced items that we can purchase at a reasonable price. How do you even source these items when everything in the stores in the nearby city comes from companies that don’t care about sustainability.
@@LeahandLevi haha I forget that people “buy” animals. In my mind adopting is the only option! Which still costs around $100 so I see it as a purchase. We’re fostering a one-eyed cat right now, so I guess cats were on my mind!
I really like how you break things down and explain yourself throughout this video. I've been following you for awhile and I really enjoy your transparency on your channel.
So sorry to hear about your Grandpa Levi! This was clearly the right decision for you guys and price, accessibility etc are such huge things to take into consideration. Glad you found what works for you x
Thanks Immy! I think it's assumed that every youtuber just buys a Tesla with their new found fame but after crunching the numbers it was wild how unsustainable (financially) it would be for us. 😳 Congrats on your walk, I'd love to do something like that in the future!
I appreciate y’all talking about buying a car while trying to be environmentally friendly. Sometimes, in conversations and RUclips channels, life choices are portrayed as black and white, environmentally friendly or not. This is so not the case and the complexity of the issue is lost. Coming from a marginalized and low-income background, I cannot afford the products and lifestyle many regard as THE way to be eco friendly, and many times it doesn’t make sense for my situation. So I thank y’all for being honest and transparent. ❤️
Good choice on your car. You forgot to mention that the Element has become kind of a cult car and as such is maintaining a good resale value. The depreciation on a new Tesla in the first year would pay for your Element with money left over for a couple of trips.
90% of Canadians live within 150km of the US border... the remaining 10% of us live in the sticks. I, similar to Levi’s parents, live in a very remote and rural place in the northern half of the province where having a vehicle is an absolute necessity. We can’t all live in cities where public transportation and EV charging stations are readily available. Sadly, BC has very poor train/bus system throughout our massive province (tbh... it’s non-existent)). So... I own a small truck which I have had forever, and I do my utmost to live sustainably in every other aspect of my life. While many other people from around the globe may question or disagree with your decision to purchase a vehicle, I absolutely get it!! I like your choice... the Element seems to be a multi-purpose vehicle . 🚙
Agreed, even in a lot of Canadian cities near the border, it's impossible to get around on public transport and really dangerous to bike because it's not socially acceptable so you get run off the road a lot.
It's great to see some small town representation. Its easy to imagine that everyone lives in the city when most of the content we see online about sustainability is urban but it sounds like you're doing your part!
@@LeahandLevi We’re trying... really hard... no leisure flying, we avoid meat and dairy, we’re not shoppers/consumers... but we need a vehicle to live in the north. Thanks for your response.
You are dead to me. But seriously, this is exactly the problem of car dependency that I'm always talking about on my channel. We are building cities and towns that are car-dependent, and in these environments, you are trapped if you don't own a car. We don't *have* to build cities this way, and in fact, we *didn't* build cities this way in Canada until about the 1950s. We could build walkable towns around train stations again, and we could build streetcar suburbs again, as we did for decades in Canada. We could build in ways that make it *possible* to drive, but not *required* to drive. It's a choice. There are significant benefits to building walkable cities again (including health and financial benefits) but when it comes to saving the planet, the way we build our cities has a *massive* impact on the decisions we make, and the decisions we *have* to make, as citizens. Buying a car was a reasonable decision for you to make in your situation, but we (as a society) really have to work harder to make the "right" decision the easy decision.
Yes! I love your breakdown of this predicament. My hope is that our car is never more than a luxury to facilitate the trips to visit family. Walkable places is where I want to settle. 🙋🏻♂️
@@LeahandLevi yes, please! We want to move out of Auckland city (Aotearoa NZ) eventually. But then you get these suburbs that have lots of trees and wilderness but also just windy roads and no sidewalks at all 🤯 I could not see myself living there not being able to bike or walk anywhere - especially with small children.
Hello, I've been following you and Leah for about two years now, and this is the first time in commenting but I've struggled with the "to buy a car or not to buy a car" dilemma. My partner and I bought our first car when we moved to the Fraser Valley this summer (woohoo BC!) due to the stark lack of public transit in our area. We both work as BIs doing at home therapy for children with autism, and we can't do that without a car, but to us, our work does make a big difference in the social sustainability of society! We also bought a Honda, a Fit, which gets great milage and we purchased it off a friend. Still, a little piece of me dies each time I need to refill the tank with gasoline, and I have to remind myself of all the other things we do to make the world a more wonderful place. Like you and Leah, we are living with my partners parents (haha BC, Honda owning, sustainability nerd moochers), and we were borrowing their vehicles lots when we first arrived. When we got the car I certainly resonated with the exciting feeling of freedom and independence that you and Leah talked about. Yet, im so excited to move back to a city one day where we can travel by foot, bike, and transit. Hope you guys make some fabulous new memories with Earl!
Thanks for sharing! The honda fit is a great little car! Perhaps when the the technology becomes more available you can upgrade to a hybrid of some kind but in the meantime keep working at it and be kind to yourself!
@@LeahandLevi Aw thanks! Keep the kindness circulating! Yes, we hope to be able to have a hybrid one day, if not an electric. Wishing you all the best! Stay safe and well!
Thank you for this video! I'm here from shelbizleee/Shelbi's channel cause all the comments were like mentioning how you guys both uploaded similar themed videos haha. Anyways I really appreciate this because my husband and I are looking to buy a car this week! We're in the exact same boat where we can't afford a tesla but don't want to get another gas car. Even have the same budget 😆
Hoooooold up, you had me fooled. I went and did research on Honda Elements and they are NOT HYBRIDS. You said the word hybrid in the video so I thought you had bought a used hybrid vehicle... Lol. Different context I guess "hybrid" as in the seats fold down like a camper van. Oof 🙃 We are going with the Prius C haha
Great video and appreciate your honesty and transparency. I agree with you, I think we have to find a balance between what works for our own individual lives while still supporting the planet. BTW! Leah you crack me up!!!
Levi and Leah, Thanks for being transparent. Most content emphasize on reducing our impacts but yours talks about what is the reality and how to integrate environmentalism and living a life more functional and less saintlike.. This helps to alleviate my anxeity. Sometimes I get real low thinking about the stuff going on today and loose hope and sleep. This video is a place to realise fuctional and environmentalism is the best choice. One shouldnt beat em up for their less environmentalist choices. mental health matters! Many Thanks! Leah is total fun😁😁
Haha yeah Leah is pretty great eh? I'm glad the video was helpful. It's easy to critique these choices but I hope you feel ok about doing what you can and constantly trying to improve!
I love just how much you speak to reality, it really highlights the core of what you’re doing. Also, I would definitely love to see car camping content, that’s my main summer recreation and I love my Subaru Forester for it!
Love this channel! The fact that you guys take so many aspects in consideration is so important. It's not always simple to make those kinds of decisions, but the way you do it makes it sound more reasonable to me and I guess to many others. Great job guys!
Buying a used car is the most environmental friendly decision one can make. No new ressources wasted on a new product nor mining for highly toxic substances for batteries to power a "zero emission" vehicle.
I honestly love the transparency in this video and throughout the channel. It does also highlight how far the EV market still has to go and as you say, you really aren’t going out too much in it anyway . What an amazing car though
Leah: "We plan to have a lot of fun in it." Levi: "Yeah." Leah: "You know what I mean." ;) "Get it?" Levi: *smile falters* "Ohhh my god *rolls eyes* ^^^best moment, lol
I absolutely love this channel and the energy y’all radiate when I get ready for school I catch up and learn something new from this channel y’all inspire me to try my hardest and make an impact on the world around me 😊
We have a car like this and bought a campal converter. It turn the car into a camper for when you need it. It’s been so life changing for our vacations! It’s small enough to take out and store in a spare space too.
Yes! Finding the best, most sustainable option for each person's situation is so complicated. My partner and I recently also had to buy a car. We went for a used Chevy Bolt, definitely choosing used for similar reasons. Especially for an EV, we felt that buying an already manufactured/ used car made the most sense! We plan to similarly do a lot of nature adventuring, but we're both quite tiny so we actually can lay down in the back of our car pretty easily (definitely a perk of us both being 5'2"). We have only had it a few weeks but are loving our decision so far!
You made a fine choice. I drive an 03’ EX 5 speed manual that has been in the family for 17 years now. It has 265,000 miles on it and still runs great. I have been thinking about building out the back of it so i am excited to see what you do!
I have the same car in orange that I bought used about 8 years ago and it's the best! I've used it traveling across the country for different jobs and have camped out of it a ton. My partner and I now share it and it has been ideal for me and now us. We use public transit or walk as much as possible, but the car has allowed us a lot of freedom for outdoor activities and traveling the 15-20 hours to get to our families (Chicago to New England). Congrats on the car!
It's why I usually dream of just having a motorcycle again (even an electric one) over here in Europe. But I guess similar to you I'd need to figure out the home situation first. Have fun camping in Earl!
Haha thanks! we're really looking forward to getting some proper use out of it (since it's basically been just a commuter for odd jobs since we got it)
Thank you for being willing to dive into the complexities of environmentalism as well as being understanding that many of us can’t always do the “greenest” option (in this case, going without a vehicle). I love that you all bring a realistic and thorough approach to these issues.
Yeah, I think buy pre-owned and used stuff makes the most sense for those who can't afford certain options. It's using the thing until it can't be used since recycling parts or dumping them early to get a new EV might be more cost-intensive and GHG intensive. BTW, you might want to move the thumbnail text away from the bottom right corner. It's ALWAYS covered by the time length
My dad has an element! The back doors can get annoying depending on how/where you are parked. However, as a two-person household, my parents don't really encounter that problem too much. It's a great vehicle.
Love the honest breakdown! I always felt like sustainability influencers ignore buying used as an option when it comes to vehicles. I would love a video talking about how regular maintenance can extend the life of a vehicle drastically. Simple things like getting the tires rotated properly will extend their life (saving money and resources) or resealing so oil doesn't leak everywhere you go polluting ditches and waterways.
Did you shop used EVs and hybrids? A used Chevy Volt can be around 10k US, that would allow you to gas up for longer trips and still plug in day to day. Even plugging into a standard North American wall outlet can meet most daily driving needs. A used all-electric used Nissan Leaf goes for a similar price, and while the leaf suffers battery degradation from having an air, vs. liquid cooled battery, you live in a climate where it rarely gets very hot, so a used Leaf should hold its range fairly well. Buying used EVs usually means you're helping the first owners trade up to new ones and thus accelerate the vital transition to electric vehicles.
When I was looking for a used car to replace my 18-year-old car a few years ago, I really wanted a hybrid or EV, but at that point there weren't any used EVs in my area (southern Ontario). I suspect that, at least at that point, the market hadn't built up enough in Canada.
@@beth7467 Yeah, they are still a little few and far between. In Denver we actually are lucky enough to have a used EV dealer. But that is fairly novel. The good news is EVs should keep getting more common, Tesla is planing to have a $25k car in 3-5 years for example. BMW is also getting super serious about EVs.
This was a really good video. It's so true that not everyone has the luxury of using public transport for their daily needs. We bought a used electric car because we were living in the suburbs with our 2 small kids and just needed one. We now live in the city in an apartment but we still kept the car for weekends and big shopping days. The rest is done on foot or bus.
Some great points about owning a car now. And it's true, without the bus or the train, travel to the Cariboo to visit your parents and grandma (and us) would be impossible. Great license plate number, starting with LL2 (Leah and Levi 2) :)
Exactly Levi, not enough people talk about this. So much of the damage to the planet is done in the production of the item rather than when it's being used. It's why I will always try to go second hand if I can especially when so much gets deemed as rubbish/done/broken when it's not. Sounds like you've had more bad news about your condo, hoping that's not the case *fingers crossed*
Thanks for publishing this! I can relate to some of this. Commuting by public transit to work is 1.5 hours, vs driving takes < 20 min, so having access to a car is a decision I had to weigh against the value of time and my mental sanity, but also access to things that aren’t walkable. Also now that Covid is present, having your own vehicle means the privilege of lower risk of exposure to other people when you do need to get to essential places. I’m curious if you’ll touch on the maintenance/repair aspects of a car (bc mending instead of buying new is applicable to all things to a certain degree), fuel efficiency (and making best use of that), but also choosing between gasoline that has higher ethanol (cleaner burning, but also more expensive) vs “regular” gas.
I can understand it 'cause of the distance to your grandparents. It would be great if you would offer car sharing as often as possible. Petrol prizes here in Europe are extreme high, so even it's less expensive in Canada, car sharing would be a great way to reduce environmental impact.
We are a part of a car share program called Modo but it is mostly for day trips and max a weekend away. They have a maximum rental time of 5 days I believe so for longer trips away it just isn't really an option. 😢
So glad you talked about the production of EVs...also, takes EVs are super dependent on how clean the energy mix is that you charge the vehicle with. It is just a more complex issue than people like to make it out to be (i spent 6 years studying it and still dont know whether an EV would be worth it for my family in my area)
Great, simple comparison of new vs. used. We camp in our RAV4 and love it. May I recommend a LunoLife mattress when you start camping in yours? We are both 65 years old, so a comfy mattress is important! Keep up the good work!
Depending on where you are getting your power from as well, doesn’t make an electric car automatically better for the environment. If you’re getting your power from a coal powered power plant or natural gas, who is to say the energy that was required to charge your car is better. Transportation is a very complicated sustainability conversation
Internal combustion engines are actually really inefficient, especially compared to electric power generation. You're still better off with an EV even if its energy is derived from fossil fuel power. Also I presume Canada will be transitioning their grid, so an EV would only get cleaner :)
@@asthmatictuna I still think that, based similarly on what Levi mentioned in his video, more resources and energy go into making electronic cars, and who is to say how long the battery lasts. So I wouldn’t automatically say that it’s better. Especially if you’re indirectly powering it with non-renewable energy during its lifetime. I definitely think Canada is different, I was basing this off of a hypothetical situation. There really aren’t many coal power plants left and most are only turned on during high energy days in the summer. I mean I get my power from a nuclear power pant. Technically if I had a Tesla my green house gas emissions are way down, but the end of life cleanup for both the car and the used uranium lol isn’t great 😂. So I think it’s a very complicated issue across the board, and you can’t automatically say one is better then the other. Especially even thinking about all the resources (and long term social problems that it’s caused) it takes to get the oil here to begin with is something we don’t think about. But that can be said about some of the minerals in the electric cars too. I think we as humans want to have an easy answer for sustainability issues, but it’s more complicated then that. I took an environmental economics class and that’s one of the main things we focused on, that most of these problems don’t have an easy replacement or else it would have already happened. But I am still hoping for more electric cars for the future. I’m hopeful the technology will keep improving
Like many people have already commented on here, I too appreciate that there are situations in life where a car is a necessity (I can totally relate!). And even though dometimes I do question some of your choices (like buying another bike), I do understand eventually that it's just life and we need to meet not only our needs, but also some wants too as long as they actually benefit us and make us happy. I remember paying to go to a badminton club when I wasn't always ok for bills. The badminton made me so happy it became an invaluable tool to help me cope with a difficult financial situation at the time. So good on you for sharing this with us! Love that you chose Honda, it's been my favourite car brand since forever 🤫😄 Lots of love to you and your families!! Stay safe and well! ❤️😘🙏
I love this story, I think the minimalism conversation stopped me from doing things that I liked doing like sports in general. If you don't do the things that you like then you can start to resent those choices.
Great choice in the vehicle! Honda Elements have never won beauty awards but hands down are one of the handiest vehicles on the road. I've had mine for 3 years in SK and can't imagine what I would replace it with when it dies. Plus most of the depreciation has happened, these cars are one of the few that are actually on the cusp of going up in value. Great choice especially out in BC! I have a buddy who also owns one. He built a camping set up like one of the photos you showed with the boxes on the sides and a platform in the middle. He finds it annoying to have to open those to get anything out of the boxes. I fold the seats flat and toss an air mattress on top. This style may work better as you most likely would want to bring your bike along, and building things take up a lot of space when not in use. Have fun decking it out!
i’m pretty young and barely entering adulthood and i love your videos! i want to live a more eco friendly life style and your videos really help with entering a different way of life. thank you guys for your educational vids and helping me grow into an adult :)
I love that Levi really speaks in a genuine way for the average person in Middle America (North). Most of us commute and (albeit trying especially given the economy and uncertainty surrounding Covid*) try to be fiscally mindful and sustainable the options marketed towards us aren't always realistic. As a recent uni grad finding a well-paying job is difficult and finding a means to commute to work that is eco-sustainable is even more difficult. I live with my parents in a farther suburban/borderline rural area and I commute over 321+ km a week and sometimes if public transit is unreliable and in order to get home quickly given how cold the weather is I opt to take an Uber or Lyft because it is faster and safer. This is the content I signed up for and honestly, it makes me really happy! Keep up the content and work Levi (*forgive any misspellings or errors I have a learning DA).
Thanks so much for your comment! Sometimes I’m unsure if people will relate or sympathize with content like this because it’s not “on brand” but it means everything to know that you feel it. 🙋🏻♂️
I live somewhere where doing without a car is not a good option for any kind of accessibility or mobility. While I dream of one day having an EV, I also am pretty sure I will never buy a new car. I drove my first ever car for more than a decade, and expect my current car to last as long (or longer, because I am a Honda fan!). I can see living w/o a car in many situations like cities with great public transit, but I also can see living out in the country like my parents/grandparents, where you need a car!
Great real/honest video. We had the same thought process when we got our 2016 Subaru Impreza hatchback last year. We didn’t need the car for daily commuting so we couldn’t justify the cost of a new electric car. Subaru’s have a pzev (partially zero emission vehicle) engine option that we have with our car and it makes me feel slightly better about the emissions. Hondas and other Japanese cars are very reliable and there’s something to be said about that in terms of footprint. Cars are a huge financial commitment and the ones we want ideally aren’t always accessible. I think this video phrases that well.
Ah! I was so much hoping for a Volvo 245! It's the most environmentally friendly choise! They go on forever, after 1 million miles you just reset the clock and go on! 😅
I really enjoy the way you guys think about going through life. Very smart car choice, i hope you have no problem with it in the long rong. Have a nice day ! :D
Good job on explaining the complexity of the situation. Thinking in black or white always leads to more polarisation instead of helpful dialogue. :) BTW, you should thalk about Patagonia's Worn wear initiative, I just found out and it is AMAZING!!
Such a great video outlining the struggle that many (especially Westerners) have to experience. As much as we always want to be environmentally conscious and look at the alternatives, the reality is most of us simply can't due to geographically where we are/what is available to us. Thanks for sharing how to be more conscious of purchases, like used vehicles!
I need to find that article about the impact of evs on the electricity production, it was on Europe though. There are already problems with the supply in winter, especially sustainable sources, and if every car were replaced with an electric one, it would be a disaster, we would have to rely on fossil electricity and it wouldn't even be beneficial in the long term...
So, I’ve got a question and I think you’ve got the unbiased answer I’m looking for how about the electricity production? At the end of the day aren’t you just using fossil fuels at the end of the day? And is that factored in to emissions of an electric vehicle? I have an answer but I would like to hear from another person
I don't have the figures really but my understanding is that even with fossil fuel powered electricity EVs are more efficient over their lifetime than vehicles with internal combustion engines. A battery engine from the very large scale fossil fuel power plant is much more efficient than a small internal combustion engine. Depending on where you are you definitely can purchase 'green' power from certain energy providers - which if you are powering your EV off is much better than a standard petroleum fuel car. In Aus we have a company called Powershop that is completely carbon neutral and you can purchase specific green energy credits for your power bill. While this isn't technically powering your specific house by solar as you are still relying on the grid - it does pay for the renewable energy you use to be produced and increases it's market share so it is in practice is the same thing.
What about the length of time it takes for those batteries in the Tesla’s to decompose. I thought it was around 100 years. I think that is where people miss that not only is there a carbon footprint in manufacturing of the Tesla’s, but also when the battery is no good can no longer be recycled and used.
I think Jason from Engineering Explained did a pretty good lifecycle analysis of electric cars. In the video, he quotes how no one's really knows what the carbon footprint is at the beginning and end of the cycle.
This looks like a great vehicle for people who choose to do "don't pay rent, save for a mortgage" because it seems being able to fully lay down is very important
Gotta say, kind of disappointed, I'm not sure about BC, but where I live transportation accounts for 50% of GHG emissions, so not owning a car is the single most impactful thing a person can do to reduce their GHG emissions. And I'll admit I'm biased, transportation advocacy is my game. I understand that car free isn't an option for everyone--where you live now, clearly there is a strong car dependency. But I didn't get the sense you intended not to own a car when you move to your condo (whenever that will be). I chose where I live specifically so I wouldn't have to own a car, not everyone has that option (although many who do have that option, don't make that choice). Now, I'm not suggesting that I never need a car, I use a car often enough in fact, but because I rent or use a carshare every time I use a vehicle, I am forced to think intentionally about it every time I use one. There is no sunk cost to justify by using it, it is never the "default" option, and the impact of that car use is also reduced because many people share the same vehicle. If a car is right for you guys (or anyone), that's a personal decision, but ultimately, I'm just disappointed.
Well I'm sorry you're disappointed but I think you get why we did it. When we move to the condo (if that ever happens) we plan on keeping the car uninsured for those longer trips back home to see my family and Leah's and using car share in the interim. 🙋🏻♂️
Totally support your reasoning guys! It would've been better if you had bought a hybrid or PHEV car, but in any case, take good care of it and it'll take good care of you! :-)
WE WERE THINKING OF MOVING UP Island thank you for talking about transit.SO WE HAVE DECIDED ON VICTORIA AND JAME BAY.thank you when our building is finished we are on our way.once again thanks guys.🛋🚲☕️🍩
Hi levi I live in the north of Sweden and also need a car to for work and have gone down a similar route as you guys. My question is when you say that we should live in a way that work for us but also works for the planet, what does that mean? What is sustainable living? For example my carbon footprint is about 2 planets for my level of living. Is that sustainable? I know what works for me, but what actually works for the planet?
Nice, we have a Honda Element 10 yrs now, we got it when I found out I was preggers.....fantastic family car...I use it as a pick up sort of...we use my full elec car 95% of time, but occasionally use the element. Like a few trips to a Disney world, It’s been an awesome car again it’s as old as my son, and it will be sad when sell it, which will happen soon becuz we can still work just as well as 1 car family and our elec car is fantastic...FYI: Nissan leaf..your purchase makes sense financially for you, and environmentally because for a gas car elements are actually not as bad as a lot of other gas cars.......anyway thx for video...🚙
I really appreciate how open you all were about getting a car. It would have taken away from the authenticity of the channel. Also thank you for exploring limitations of public transportation, or buying an EV for that matter
Thanks for appreciating it! Every time I make a video I’m guessing what conversations will mean the most to people and I thought this one would work well.
Did you consider looking for a secondhand EV? Also, if you haven't already, you should check out Ayana Johnson and Alex Blumberg's podcast "How To Save A Planet". In one of the more recent episodes they talked about EVs because a couple was having a debate about whether or not to buy a secondhand car or buy an EV.
I listen to that podcast actually! I'm surprised I haven't seen it! Link it below if it's easy because I'd love to listen (and maybe other people too?). We did look at second hand ev's but within our price range < $10,000 there was mostly just the Prius which wouldn't work super well for our adventure plans. Our next car will be an EV for sure though!
@@LeahandLevi It's a great podcast. I recently started listening to podcasts on my walk to work. Here's the link to that episode: open.spotify.com/episode/4ookxQhPBB9hS6CNSXkx0f?si=pU3ySojURjmUUDTYkU7zng Ah ok that's fair enough. I'm sure Earl will work well for now 😉
I am someone who lives in an area with no public transportation what so ever, and I drive a lot, so that Tesla Truck may be a good option down the line(or even the new hybrid Ford f-150) but for now, I am going to stick with my still running, 18 year old truck. :) Good on you for being transparent.
Keeping it alive is the best practice in my opinion but I would also look into Rivian. They're planning to be the first electric truck on the market in 2021.
TBH, I was wondering how long you'd last in your current living situation without a car. I mean, it would be doable, but....for how long and with what costs? Makes total sense, including NOT getting an e-car or something like that. I bought a used hybrid that then broke down and was no longer under warranty -- because of the parts that malfunctioned, it was going to cost more to fix than to just buy an entirely NEW car, like BRAND NEW, not just new to me. With regard to car sharing, I live right in the middle of a city and the car share program here has been steadily removing vehicles. It's getting harder and harder to find an available car. :( And, as you mentioned, it's hard to use a car share for any trip that's more than a day long -- and a full day costs 1/2 my previous monthly car expenses. So sorry about your grandfather, Levi!
I agree with your decision about the car. I own a car and that is not an EV. It is used and I only drive on weekends to run errands even though I live in Chocago where public transportation is available simply because I don’t want to spend an entire day to do only a few things not to mention our cold weather. Yes. I can afford that and that is not the case for all so I know I’m not being fair here. Additionally, my justification for my car is somewhat similar to why I used disposable diapers. I have twins. I didn’t want to or couldn’t have spent all my time washing cloth ones. Even if I had used a service, the service has to wash them and probably use bleach and some other not so environmentally friendly solvents. I weighed my mental health and quality of my life, using disposable diapers was the answer to me. The issue about saving this planet is such a hard subject to deal with.
There's a company called archimoto, making small 3 wheeled EVs, might be interesting for you to look into. Not quite at market scale, but maybe when the element reaches end of life.
There are a lot of factors to go through when making a big purchase, such as a car, and you bought one to fit your lifestyle. Unfortunately, there just isn't enough variety in the EV market and they have not been around long enough to have a large enough used car market. There are also many infrastructure aspects that are not conducive to owning an EV. I live in an apartment where residents have a shared parking lot; I would have no where to plug in a EV. Not enough plugs elsewhere that makes traveling long distances troublesome. If the electrical grid runs mostly on fossil fuels.... With that being said, we make the best environmentally friendly decisions based on what we can do with what is available. Have fun traveling in your new car!
Hey team! Thanks for the understanding and thoughtful comments! I know it's not the typical video for a channel about sustainability but I think it's important to chat about. Ya'll are the best. ❤️
It’s not typical, which is great. We don’t look up to you for being perfect. We look up to you for the transparency you give, for the information that you provide. Thanks y’all!
It's a conversation that needed to be had. Some of us need cars and we feel guilty about it as we are trying to be sustainable as we can but needs must sometimes! Thanks for the video
@@comingofkym Thanks so much my friend!
@@sheilapicton5937 Thanks for this!
Thanks so much for sharing this. We too are in the similar situation with questions of sustainability and vehicle purchasing. We live in the country.
If I knew your email address, I would ask this there, however, I will try to ask this in an awkward way here. We were wondering if you could share a video with some insight into house building/appliances/flooring/household appointments (e.g. plumbing and electrical fixtures). We are going to be building our small (not tiny) home next year. We have been out trying to find sustainability “friendly” items, at a fair price and it’s a challenge.
What have you found while buying these for your condo? Did you choose your condo builder because some of these items were sustainably sourced? What have you found regarding building “needs” and sustainability?
Our house is designed specially to be as eco friendly as we are able to make it. The architect has done a great deal of work with us and the builder with regard to insulation, passive solar, building materials to be used, choices of doors and windows, etc. However, now we have started to research the plumbing and lighting fixtures, and the appliances, and other “decorative”/necessary elements of the build (light fixtures, switches from China, door knobs from the States, etc.) and we are so surprised by how much of a carbon footprint the purchase of these are going to use. We live near Ottawa but a lot of the items are coming from the US, China, and other countries. We thought we were buying Canadian products only to find that the distributor or assembly is Canadian but the product is all foreign parts.
I’m not trying to be politically “nationalistic” about this. I just want to find more Canadian or locally made, or even foreign sustainably produced items that we can purchase at a reasonable price. How do you even source these items when everything in the stores in the nearby city comes from companies that don’t care about sustainability.
I clicked because I thought the notification said “We bought a cat!!,” and I have to say, I’m slightly disappointed 😂
I would hope that Levi and Leah would be the type of people to adopt, not shop, but I agree that a cat would be better
@@finningram4905 Hahaha yeah we would adopt but also... not really cat people 😬
@@LeahandLevi haha I forget that people “buy” animals. In my mind adopting is the only option! Which still costs around $100 so I see it as a purchase. We’re fostering a one-eyed cat right now, so I guess cats were on my mind!
That would be significantly more adorable. :)
I read "We bought a Carl" and i was disappointed, they bought an Earl 🙃
I really like how you break things down and explain yourself throughout this video. I've been following you for awhile and I really enjoy your transparency on your channel.
Thanks Caroline! I'm glad you appreciate it!
So sorry to hear about your Grandpa Levi! This was clearly the right decision for you guys and price, accessibility etc are such huge things to take into consideration. Glad you found what works for you x
Thanks Immy! I think it's assumed that every youtuber just buys a Tesla with their new found fame but after crunching the numbers it was wild how unsustainable (financially) it would be for us. 😳 Congrats on your walk, I'd love to do something like that in the future!
I appreciate y’all talking about buying a car while trying to be environmentally friendly. Sometimes, in conversations and RUclips channels, life choices are portrayed as black and white, environmentally friendly or not. This is so not the case and the complexity of the issue is lost. Coming from a marginalized and low-income background, I cannot afford the products and lifestyle many regard as THE way to be eco friendly, and many times it doesn’t make sense for my situation. So I thank y’all for being honest and transparent. ❤️
Yes! This is what we we're hoping with it! There's so much nuance that's lost in the car conversation, hopefully this was helpful!
Great choice .... your needs are gonna change over the years and you change with them. You are right it’s about the balance.
Thanks for this! I know we'll get an EV at some point but not just yet!
I appreciate the down-to-earth transparency
Good choice on your car. You forgot to mention that the Element has become kind of a cult car and as such is maintaining a good resale value. The depreciation on a new Tesla in the first year would pay for your Element with money left over for a couple of trips.
This is also true! The Element resale world is kind of banana's tbh haha
90% of Canadians live within 150km of the US border... the remaining 10% of us live in the sticks. I, similar to Levi’s parents, live in a very remote and rural place in the northern half of the province where having a vehicle is an absolute necessity. We can’t all live in cities where public transportation and EV charging stations are readily available. Sadly, BC has very poor train/bus system throughout our massive province (tbh... it’s non-existent)). So... I own a small truck which I have had forever, and I do my utmost to live sustainably in every other aspect of my life. While many other people from around the globe may question or disagree with your decision to purchase a vehicle, I absolutely get it!! I like your choice... the Element seems to be a multi-purpose vehicle . 🚙
Agreed, even in a lot of Canadian cities near the border, it's impossible to get around on public transport and really dangerous to bike because it's not socially acceptable so you get run off the road a lot.
It's great to see some small town representation. Its easy to imagine that everyone lives in the city when most of the content we see online about sustainability is urban but it sounds like you're doing your part!
@@LeahandLevi We’re trying... really hard... no leisure flying, we avoid meat and dairy, we’re not shoppers/consumers... but we need a vehicle to live in the north. Thanks for your response.
You are dead to me.
But seriously, this is exactly the problem of car dependency that I'm always talking about on my channel. We are building cities and towns that are car-dependent, and in these environments, you are trapped if you don't own a car. We don't *have* to build cities this way, and in fact, we *didn't* build cities this way in Canada until about the 1950s. We could build walkable towns around train stations again, and we could build streetcar suburbs again, as we did for decades in Canada. We could build in ways that make it *possible* to drive, but not *required* to drive. It's a choice.
There are significant benefits to building walkable cities again (including health and financial benefits) but when it comes to saving the planet, the way we build our cities has a *massive* impact on the decisions we make, and the decisions we *have* to make, as citizens. Buying a car was a reasonable decision for you to make in your situation, but we (as a society) really have to work harder to make the "right" decision the easy decision.
Yes! I love your breakdown of this predicament. My hope is that our car is never more than a luxury to facilitate the trips to visit family. Walkable places is where I want to settle. 🙋🏻♂️
@@LeahandLevi yes, please! We want to move out of Auckland city (Aotearoa NZ) eventually. But then you get these suburbs that have lots of trees and wilderness but also just windy roads and no sidewalks at all 🤯 I could not see myself living there not being able to bike or walk anywhere - especially with small children.
This is exactly why I don't want to leave downtown Toronto, even though I really want to live in a smaller town. I can't bear the sight of a stroad.
Honesty is honorable. Thank you for sharing.
I really appreciate the fact that you're transparent with your viewers. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for being a part of the team!
Thanks for the transparency. You make awesome points. And Leah, “lot of fun in the car”. Lol haha. You guys are so fun
Hello, I've been following you and Leah for about two years now, and this is the first time in commenting but I've struggled with the "to buy a car or not to buy a car" dilemma. My partner and I bought our first car when we moved to the Fraser Valley this summer (woohoo BC!) due to the stark lack of public transit in our area. We both work as BIs doing at home therapy for children with autism, and we can't do that without a car, but to us, our work does make a big difference in the social sustainability of society! We also bought a Honda, a Fit, which gets great milage and we purchased it off a friend. Still, a little piece of me dies each time I need to refill the tank with gasoline, and I have to remind myself of all the other things we do to make the world a more wonderful place. Like you and Leah, we are living with my partners parents (haha BC, Honda owning, sustainability nerd moochers), and we were borrowing their vehicles lots when we first arrived. When we got the car I certainly resonated with the exciting feeling of freedom and independence that you and Leah talked about. Yet, im so excited to move back to a city one day where we can travel by foot, bike, and transit.
Hope you guys make some fabulous new memories with Earl!
Thanks for sharing! The honda fit is a great little car! Perhaps when the the technology becomes more available you can upgrade to a hybrid of some kind but in the meantime keep working at it and be kind to yourself!
@@LeahandLevi Aw thanks! Keep the kindness circulating! Yes, we hope to be able to have a hybrid one day, if not an electric. Wishing you all the best! Stay safe and well!
You're going to build a "camping set-up" for the back. Hopefully, that means we get to see your Dad again. 🤞
Hahaha yeah the plan is to convince him to help me build something for the back there... 🧐
Thank you for this video! I'm here from shelbizleee/Shelbi's channel cause all the comments were like mentioning how you guys both uploaded similar themed videos haha. Anyways I really appreciate this because my husband and I are looking to buy a car this week! We're in the exact same boat where we can't afford a tesla but don't want to get another gas car. Even have the same budget 😆
Hoooooold up, you had me fooled. I went and did research on Honda Elements and they are NOT HYBRIDS. You said the word hybrid in the video so I thought you had bought a used hybrid vehicle... Lol. Different context I guess "hybrid" as in the seats fold down like a camper van. Oof 🙃
We are going with the Prius C haha
Great video and appreciate your honesty and transparency. I agree with you, I think we have to find a balance between what works for our own individual lives while still supporting the planet. BTW! Leah you crack me up!!!
Thanks so much for your understanding!
Levi and Leah, Thanks for being transparent. Most content emphasize on reducing our impacts but yours talks about what is the reality and how to integrate environmentalism and living a life more functional and less saintlike.. This helps to alleviate my anxeity. Sometimes I get real low thinking about the stuff going on today and loose hope and sleep. This video is a place to realise fuctional and environmentalism is the best choice. One shouldnt beat em up for their less environmentalist choices. mental health matters! Many Thanks! Leah is total fun😁😁
Haha yeah Leah is pretty great eh? I'm glad the video was helpful. It's easy to critique these choices but I hope you feel ok about doing what you can and constantly trying to improve!
Yeah!! Happy being part of this team😇💚
The Element is such a rad car. You actually got a wicked price for the SC model too 👍🏼 Also, I love your jacket, Levi. Who makes it?
Glad you approve my guy, it was a pretty awesome deal tbh. The jacket is a patagonia. 😜
I think most Element owners around here refuse to ever give them up! It’s beloved!
I love just how much you speak to reality, it really highlights the core of what you’re doing. Also, I would definitely love to see car camping content, that’s my main summer recreation and I love my Subaru Forester for it!
The forester is definitely a nice vehicle! I would have considered them but my dad would disown me if I bought one (it's a long story). haha
Love this channel! The fact that you guys take so many aspects in consideration is so important. It's not always simple to make those kinds of decisions, but the way you do it makes it sound more reasonable to me and I guess to many others. Great job guys!
Thanks for being a part of the team!
Buying a used car is the most environmental friendly decision one can make. No new ressources wasted on a new product nor mining for highly toxic substances for batteries to power a "zero emission" vehicle.
I honestly love the transparency in this video and throughout the channel. It does also highlight how far the EV market still has to go and as you say, you really aren’t going out too much in it anyway . What an amazing car though
Leah: "We plan to have a lot of fun in it."
Levi: "Yeah."
Leah: "You know what I mean." ;) "Get it?"
Levi: *smile falters* "Ohhh my god *rolls eyes*
^^^best moment, lol
Haha, well thank you!
I absolutely love this channel and the energy y’all radiate when I get ready for school I catch up and learn something new from this channel y’all inspire me to try my hardest and make an impact on the world around me 😊
Doesn't sound like you're moving into your new apartment anytime soon 😆
Sigh... the saga continues. 🤦🏻♂️
@@LeahandLevi Levi's Appartment and the return of the construction workers...... II 😂
We have a car like this and bought a campal converter. It turn the car into a camper for when you need it. It’s been so life changing for our vacations! It’s small enough to take out and store in a spare space too.
Yes! Finding the best, most sustainable option for each person's situation is so complicated. My partner and I recently also had to buy a car. We went for a used Chevy Bolt, definitely choosing used for similar reasons. Especially for an EV, we felt that buying an already manufactured/ used car made the most sense! We plan to similarly do a lot of nature adventuring, but we're both quite tiny so we actually can lay down in the back of our car pretty easily (definitely a perk of us both being 5'2"). We have only had it a few weeks but are loving our decision so far!
That's great to hear! Awesome that you were able to get an EV too! That's what we'll be doing for the next one!
Love the camping set up idea. It would be great to make it as a removable insert if that wasn't the plan already :)
Yeah I plan to build it with my dad (he's a woodworker) and I will probably leave the design aspects to him honestly haha
You made a fine choice. I drive an 03’ EX 5 speed manual that has been in the family for 17 years now. It has 265,000 miles on it and still runs great. I have been thinking about building out the back of it so i am excited to see what you do!
So cool! Thanks for the comment!
I have the same car in orange that I bought used about 8 years ago and it's the best! I've used it traveling across the country for different jobs and have camped out of it a ton. My partner and I now share it and it has been ideal for me and now us. We use public transit or walk as much as possible, but the car has allowed us a lot of freedom for outdoor activities and traveling the 15-20 hours to get to our families (Chicago to New England). Congrats on the car!
That's great to hear! It sounds like you have similar expectations and uses for it! I hope that we get to make the most of it here soon!
SO MUCH ROOM FOR ACTIVITIESSS
It's why I usually dream of just having a motorcycle again (even an electric one) over here in Europe. But I guess similar to you I'd need to figure out the home situation first. Have fun camping in Earl!
Haha thanks! we're really looking forward to getting some proper use out of it (since it's basically been just a commuter for odd jobs since we got it)
Thank you for being willing to dive into the complexities of environmentalism as well as being understanding that many of us can’t always do the “greenest” option (in this case, going without a vehicle). I love that you all bring a realistic and thorough approach to these issues.
Oh man the feels when you mentioned Nanaimo transit. I grew up not that far from Leah’s parents area and trying to get around by bus is painful lol.
I miss my Element with all my heart! It had 236k miles when I sold it to get a Crosstour. I wish they still made them, it was such a fun car. ☺️
Yeah, I think buy pre-owned and used stuff makes the most sense for those who can't afford certain options. It's using the thing until it can't be used since recycling parts or dumping them early to get a new EV might be more cost-intensive and GHG intensive.
BTW, you might want to move the thumbnail text away from the bottom right corner. It's ALWAYS covered by the time length
My dad has an element! The back doors can get annoying depending on how/where you are parked. However, as a two-person household, my parents don't really encounter that problem too much. It's a great vehicle.
Love the honest breakdown! I always felt like sustainability influencers ignore buying used as an option when it comes to vehicles. I would love a video talking about how regular maintenance can extend the life of a vehicle drastically. Simple things like getting the tires rotated properly will extend their life (saving money and resources) or resealing so oil doesn't leak everywhere you go polluting ditches and waterways.
Can’t say I’ve ever seen or even heard of an Element in the UK but they look pretty cool! Got that chunky, rugged vibe to them!
Did you shop used EVs and hybrids? A used Chevy Volt can be around 10k US, that would allow you to gas up for longer trips and still plug in day to day. Even plugging into a standard North American wall outlet can meet most daily driving needs. A used all-electric used Nissan Leaf goes for a similar price, and while the leaf suffers battery degradation from having an air, vs. liquid cooled battery, you live in a climate where it rarely gets very hot, so a used Leaf should hold its range fairly well. Buying used EVs usually means you're helping the first owners trade up to new ones and thus accelerate the vital transition to electric vehicles.
When I was looking for a used car to replace my 18-year-old car a few years ago, I really wanted a hybrid or EV, but at that point there weren't any used EVs in my area (southern Ontario). I suspect that, at least at that point, the market hadn't built up enough in Canada.
@@beth7467 Yeah, they are still a little few and far between. In Denver we actually are lucky enough to have a used EV dealer. But that is fairly novel. The good news is EVs should keep getting more common, Tesla is planing to have a $25k car in 3-5 years for example. BMW is also getting super serious about EVs.
This was a really good video. It's so true that not everyone has the luxury of using public transport for their daily needs.
We bought a used electric car because we were living in the suburbs with our 2 small kids and just needed one.
We now live in the city in an apartment but we still kept the car for weekends and big shopping days. The rest is done on foot or bus.
That’s great to hear! I think a lot of people think of everyday car use as normal but you’re making it work!
Some great points about owning a car now. And it's true, without the bus or the train, travel to the Cariboo to visit your parents and grandma (and us) would be impossible. Great license plate number, starting with LL2 (Leah and Levi 2) :)
Exactly Levi, not enough people talk about this. So much of the damage to the planet is done in the production of the item rather than when it's being used. It's why I will always try to go second hand if I can especially when so much gets deemed as rubbish/done/broken when it's not.
Sounds like you've had more bad news about your condo, hoping that's not the case *fingers crossed*
Thank you for crossing those digits for us we really need it! Second hand always!
the amount of love that I feel for you two is just unexplainable 🥺💕
You both have changed my perception of looking at things.
Honestly I am way too excited for the roadtrips you guys will be having. Also the cinematography was and has been amazing this year.
Thanks Jack! We've got some plans but within COVID regulations of course!
Thanks for publishing this!
I can relate to some of this. Commuting by public transit to work is 1.5 hours, vs driving takes < 20 min, so having access to a car is a decision I had to weigh against the value of time and my mental sanity, but also access to things that aren’t walkable. Also now that Covid is present, having your own vehicle means the privilege of lower risk of exposure to other people when you do need to get to essential places.
I’m curious if you’ll touch on the maintenance/repair aspects of a car (bc mending instead of buying new is applicable to all things to a certain degree), fuel efficiency (and making best use of that), but also choosing between gasoline that has higher ethanol (cleaner burning, but also more expensive) vs “regular” gas.
I can understand it 'cause of the distance to your grandparents. It would be great if you would offer car sharing as often as possible. Petrol prizes here in Europe are extreme high, so even it's less expensive in Canada, car sharing would be a great way to reduce environmental impact.
We are a part of a car share program called Modo but it is mostly for day trips and max a weekend away. They have a maximum rental time of 5 days I believe so for longer trips away it just isn't really an option. 😢
@@LeahandLevi I meant telling friends and community members your car can be shared if needed.
LOVE Elements! Such a cool, versatile car. I don't know why they stopped making them.
So glad you talked about the production of EVs...also, takes EVs are super dependent on how clean the energy mix is that you charge the vehicle with. It is just a more complex issue than people like to make it out to be (i spent 6 years studying it and still dont know whether an EV would be worth it for my family in my area)
Great, simple comparison of new vs. used. We camp in our RAV4 and love it. May I recommend a LunoLife mattress when you start camping in yours? We are both 65 years old, so a comfy mattress is important! Keep up the good work!
We also looked at Rav4's as well but this one came up and was a great deal! Thanks for the tip too!
Depending on where you are getting your power from as well, doesn’t make an electric car automatically better for the environment. If you’re getting your power from a coal powered power plant or natural gas, who is to say the energy that was required to charge your car is better. Transportation is a very complicated sustainability conversation
Internal combustion engines are actually really inefficient, especially compared to electric power generation. You're still better off with an EV even if its energy is derived from fossil fuel power. Also I presume Canada will be transitioning their grid, so an EV would only get cleaner :)
@@asthmatictuna I still think that, based similarly on what Levi mentioned in his video, more resources and energy go into making electronic cars, and who is to say how long the battery lasts. So I wouldn’t automatically say that it’s better. Especially if you’re indirectly powering it with non-renewable energy during its lifetime. I definitely think Canada is different, I was basing this off of a hypothetical situation. There really aren’t many coal power plants left and most are only turned on during high energy days in the summer. I mean I get my power from a nuclear power pant. Technically if I had a Tesla my green house gas emissions are way down, but the end of life cleanup for both the car and the used uranium lol isn’t great 😂. So I think it’s a very complicated issue across the board, and you can’t automatically say one is better then the other. Especially even thinking about all the resources (and long term social problems that it’s caused) it takes to get the oil here to begin with is something we don’t think about. But that can be said about some of the minerals in the electric cars too. I think we as humans want to have an easy answer for sustainability issues, but it’s more complicated then that. I took an environmental economics class and that’s one of the main things we focused on, that most of these problems don’t have an easy replacement or else it would have already happened. But I am still hoping for more electric cars for the future. I’m hopeful the technology will keep improving
I was expecting you to purchase a Prius and was delightfully surprised to see it’s an element! We have one and we love taking it on camping trips.
Like many people have already commented on here, I too appreciate that there are situations in life where a car is a necessity (I can totally relate!). And even though dometimes I do question some of your choices (like buying another bike), I do understand eventually that it's just life and we need to meet not only our needs, but also some wants too as long as they actually benefit us and make us happy. I remember paying to go to a badminton club when I wasn't always ok for bills. The badminton made me so happy it became an invaluable tool to help me cope with a difficult financial situation at the time. So good on you for sharing this with us! Love that you chose Honda, it's been my favourite car brand since forever 🤫😄 Lots of love to you and your families!! Stay safe and well! ❤️😘🙏
I love this story, I think the minimalism conversation stopped me from doing things that I liked doing like sports in general. If you don't do the things that you like then you can start to resent those choices.
@@LeahandLevi Totally agree! 👍
This video really helps me get over the guilt of planning to buy a regular gas-powered car over an EV because I simply can't afford one.
Great choice in the vehicle! Honda Elements have never won beauty awards but hands down are one of the handiest vehicles on the road. I've had mine for 3 years in SK and can't imagine what I would replace it with when it dies. Plus most of the depreciation has happened, these cars are one of the few that are actually on the cusp of going up in value. Great choice especially out in BC!
I have a buddy who also owns one. He built a camping set up like one of the photos you showed with the boxes on the sides and a platform in the middle. He finds it annoying to have to open those to get anything out of the boxes. I fold the seats flat and toss an air mattress on top. This style may work better as you most likely would want to bring your bike along, and building things take up a lot of space when not in use. Have fun decking it out!
This is great to hear! (and a little reassuring too tbh haha). I always second guess purchases like this but so far I've been really happy with Earl!
i’m pretty young and barely entering adulthood and i love your videos! i want to live a more eco friendly life style and your videos really help with entering a different way of life. thank you guys for your educational vids and helping me grow into an adult :)
I love that Levi really speaks in a genuine way for the average person in Middle America (North). Most of us commute and (albeit trying especially given the economy and uncertainty surrounding Covid*) try to be fiscally mindful and sustainable the options marketed towards us aren't always realistic. As a recent uni grad finding a well-paying job is difficult and finding a means to commute to work that is eco-sustainable is even more difficult. I live with my parents in a farther suburban/borderline rural area and I commute over 321+ km a week and sometimes if public transit is unreliable and in order to get home quickly given how cold the weather is I opt to take an Uber or Lyft because it is faster and safer. This is the content I signed up for and honestly, it makes me really happy! Keep up the content and work Levi (*forgive any misspellings or errors I have a learning DA).
Thanks so much for your comment! Sometimes I’m unsure if people will relate or sympathize with content like this because it’s not “on brand” but it means everything to know that you feel it. 🙋🏻♂️
I live somewhere where doing without a car is not a good option for any kind of accessibility or mobility. While I dream of one day having an EV, I also am pretty sure I will never buy a new car. I drove my first ever car for more than a decade, and expect my current car to last as long (or longer, because I am a Honda fan!). I can see living w/o a car in many situations like cities with great public transit, but I also can see living out in the country like my parents/grandparents, where you need a car!
Love you guys! 🤗
Great real/honest video. We had the same thought process when we got our 2016 Subaru Impreza hatchback last year. We didn’t need the car for daily commuting so we couldn’t justify the cost of a new electric car. Subaru’s have a pzev (partially zero emission vehicle) engine option that we have with our car and it makes me feel slightly better about the emissions. Hondas and other Japanese cars are very reliable and there’s something to be said about that in terms of footprint. Cars are a huge financial commitment and the ones we want ideally aren’t always accessible. I think this video phrases that well.
Thanks for the feedback Noah. I struggled to phrase it perfectly but I think it got the point across generally. Thanks for your support!
Leah is so adorable. That’s all I wanna say xD
Ah! I was so much hoping for a Volvo 245! It's the most environmentally friendly choise! They go on forever, after 1 million miles you just reset the clock and go on! 😅
I really enjoy the way you guys think about going through life. Very smart car choice, i hope you have no problem with it in the long rong. Have a nice day ! :D
Good job on explaining the complexity of the situation. Thinking in black or white always leads to more polarisation instead of helpful dialogue. :)
BTW, you should thalk about Patagonia's Worn wear initiative, I just found out and it is AMAZING!!
You guys should do a collab with Eamon and Bec!! (Of course once it’s safe to do so)
Such a great video outlining the struggle that many (especially Westerners) have to experience. As much as we always want to be environmentally conscious and look at the alternatives, the reality is most of us simply can't due to geographically where we are/what is available to us.
Thanks for sharing how to be more conscious of purchases, like used vehicles!
I’m really glad you enjoyed it! Feel free to share the video with anyone you think might benefit from watching it!
I need to find that article about the impact of evs on the electricity production, it was on Europe though. There are already problems with the supply in winter, especially sustainable sources, and if every car were replaced with an electric one, it would be a disaster, we would have to rely on fossil electricity and it wouldn't even be beneficial in the long term...
So, I’ve got a question and I think you’ve got the unbiased answer I’m looking for how about the electricity production? At the end of the day aren’t you just using fossil fuels at the end of the day? And is that factored in to emissions of an electric vehicle? I have an answer but I would like to hear from another person
I don't have the figures really but my understanding is that even with fossil fuel powered electricity EVs are more efficient over their lifetime than vehicles with internal combustion engines. A battery engine from the very large scale fossil fuel power plant is much more efficient than a small internal combustion engine.
Depending on where you are you definitely can purchase 'green' power from certain energy providers - which if you are powering your EV off is much better than a standard petroleum fuel car.
In Aus we have a company called Powershop that is completely carbon neutral and you can purchase specific green energy credits for your power bill. While this isn't technically powering your specific house by solar as you are still relying on the grid - it does pay for the renewable energy you use to be produced and increases it's market share so it is in practice is the same thing.
What about the length of time it takes for those batteries in the Tesla’s to decompose. I thought it was around 100 years. I think that is where people miss that not only is there a carbon footprint in manufacturing of the Tesla’s, but also when the battery is no good can no longer be recycled and used.
I think Jason from Engineering Explained did a pretty good lifecycle analysis of electric cars. In the video, he quotes how no one's really knows what the carbon footprint is at the beginning and end of the cycle.
don't forget to take off the hood thing when it's not used. Better for fuel usage
Yes! Now to convince our in laws to store it for us haha
@@LeahandLevi just hide it in your bed with the sheets haha
6:54 couldnt stop laughing at your voice when you said "sick roadtrips" :D
Love the choice in vehicle!! You will love it especially for recreational activities that you are planning. Congrats and enjoy!
Earl is a sick name too! Love how thought out this was!
Yay! I love the Element so much, really wish they'd remake the model instead of the sad Passport.
I love these things lmao, always wanted my parents to get one when I was too young to have my own car 😂 SO.MUCH.UTILITY.
This looks like a great vehicle for people who choose to do "don't pay rent, save for a mortgage" because it seems being able to fully lay down is very important
Yeah also helps not buying a brand new vehicle for that reason too 😂
Gotta say, kind of disappointed, I'm not sure about BC, but where I live transportation accounts for 50% of GHG emissions, so not owning a car is the single most impactful thing a person can do to reduce their GHG emissions. And I'll admit I'm biased, transportation advocacy is my game.
I understand that car free isn't an option for everyone--where you live now, clearly there is a strong car dependency. But I didn't get the sense you intended not to own a car when you move to your condo (whenever that will be). I chose where I live specifically so I wouldn't have to own a car, not everyone has that option (although many who do have that option, don't make that choice).
Now, I'm not suggesting that I never need a car, I use a car often enough in fact, but because I rent or use a carshare every time I use a vehicle, I am forced to think intentionally about it every time I use one. There is no sunk cost to justify by using it, it is never the "default" option, and the impact of that car use is also reduced because many people share the same vehicle.
If a car is right for you guys (or anyone), that's a personal decision, but ultimately, I'm just disappointed.
Well I'm sorry you're disappointed but I think you get why we did it. When we move to the condo (if that ever happens) we plan on keeping the car uninsured for those longer trips back home to see my family and Leah's and using car share in the interim. 🙋🏻♂️
BLUR OUT THE LICENCE PLATE BEFORE SOMEONE STEALS YOUR CAR!
Like how realistic you guys are👍🏼
Hey, this is awesome! I used to own an element and it was amazing and reliable in so many ways.
Totally support your reasoning guys! It would've been better if you had bought a hybrid or PHEV car, but in any case, take good care of it and it'll take good care of you! :-)
That's the plan for our next vehicle when/if we need one!
WE WERE THINKING OF MOVING UP Island thank you for talking about transit.SO WE HAVE DECIDED ON VICTORIA AND JAME BAY.thank you when our building is finished we are on our way.once again thanks guys.🛋🚲☕️🍩
James bay is AMAZING! You're going to love it!
Hi levi I live in the north of Sweden and also need a car to for work and have gone down a similar route as you guys. My question is when you say that we should live in a way that work for us but also works for the planet, what does that mean? What is sustainable living? For example my carbon footprint is about 2 planets for my level of living. Is that sustainable? I know what works for me, but what actually works for the planet?
u guys are so cute!!! i love Leah's conclusion
Nice, we have a Honda Element 10 yrs now, we got it when I found out I was preggers.....fantastic family car...I use it as a pick up sort of...we use my full elec car 95% of time, but occasionally use the element. Like a few trips to a Disney world, It’s been an awesome car again it’s as old as my son, and it will be sad when sell it, which will happen soon becuz we can still work just as well as 1 car family and our elec car is fantastic...FYI: Nissan leaf..your purchase makes sense financially for you, and environmentally because for a gas car elements are actually not as bad as a lot of other gas cars.......anyway thx for video...🚙
Recent tagline: 'you dont have to be a hero to save the world!'
Future tagline: 'you dont have to save the world!'
I really appreciate how open you all were about getting a car. It would have taken away from the authenticity of the channel. Also thank you for exploring limitations of public transportation, or buying an EV for that matter
Thanks for appreciating it! Every time I make a video I’m guessing what conversations will mean the most to people and I thought this one would work well.
Did you consider looking for a secondhand EV? Also, if you haven't already, you should check out Ayana Johnson and Alex Blumberg's podcast "How To Save A Planet". In one of the more recent episodes they talked about EVs because a couple was having a debate about whether or not to buy a secondhand car or buy an EV.
I listen to that podcast actually! I'm surprised I haven't seen it! Link it below if it's easy because I'd love to listen (and maybe other people too?). We did look at second hand ev's but within our price range < $10,000 there was mostly just the Prius which wouldn't work super well for our adventure plans. Our next car will be an EV for sure though!
@@LeahandLevi It's a great podcast. I recently started listening to podcasts on my walk to work. Here's the link to that episode: open.spotify.com/episode/4ookxQhPBB9hS6CNSXkx0f?si=pU3ySojURjmUUDTYkU7zng
Ah ok that's fair enough. I'm sure Earl will work well for now 😉
I am someone who lives in an area with no public transportation what so ever, and I drive a lot, so that Tesla Truck may be a good option down the line(or even the new hybrid Ford f-150) but for now, I am going to stick with my still running, 18 year old truck. :) Good on you for being transparent.
Keeping it alive is the best practice in my opinion but I would also look into Rivian. They're planning to be the first electric truck on the market in 2021.
@@LeahandLevi I will have to do that! Would be awesome to have a more sustainable truck, since I am an avid driver!
Pretty good set of quirks and features.
TBH, I was wondering how long you'd last in your current living situation without a car. I mean, it would be doable, but....for how long and with what costs? Makes total sense, including NOT getting an e-car or something like that. I bought a used hybrid that then broke down and was no longer under warranty -- because of the parts that malfunctioned, it was going to cost more to fix than to just buy an entirely NEW car, like BRAND NEW, not just new to me.
With regard to car sharing, I live right in the middle of a city and the car share program here has been steadily removing vehicles. It's getting harder and harder to find an available car. :( And, as you mentioned, it's hard to use a car share for any trip that's more than a day long -- and a full day costs 1/2 my previous monthly car expenses.
So sorry about your grandfather, Levi!
Levi & Leah, I just found your channel and I love it. I'm in Victoria BC, Maybe we'll cross paths sometime! :)
Hello local new friend! Thanks for joining the team!
The car looks so cool, and for 9100CAD seems like a pretty good deal! These cars have stopped depreciating too!
Yeah we got a really good deal on it, we didn't want to spend this much but it was the right value for what we needed and so here we are!
I agree with your decision about the car. I own a car and that is not an EV. It is used and I only drive on weekends to run errands even though I live in Chocago where public transportation is available simply because I don’t want to spend an entire day to do only a few things not to mention our cold weather. Yes. I can afford that and that is not the case for all so I know I’m not being fair here. Additionally, my justification for my car is somewhat similar to why I used disposable diapers. I have twins. I didn’t want to or couldn’t have spent all my time washing cloth ones. Even if I had used a service, the service has to wash them and probably use bleach and some other not so environmentally friendly solvents. I weighed my mental health and quality of my life, using disposable diapers was the answer to me. The issue about saving this planet is such a hard subject to deal with.
There's a company called archimoto, making small 3 wheeled EVs, might be interesting for you to look into. Not quite at market scale, but maybe when the element reaches end of life.
Earl is the best name you guys could've picked 😂👌
Leah *hood up* LETSGOO
She’s a hype queen for sure 😂
you know what a badass I am, Jay! :P
There are a lot of factors to go through when making a big purchase, such as a car, and you bought one to fit your lifestyle. Unfortunately, there just isn't enough variety in the EV market and they have not been around long enough to have a large enough used car market. There are also many infrastructure aspects that are not conducive to owning an EV. I live in an apartment where residents have a shared parking lot; I would have no where to plug in a EV. Not enough plugs elsewhere that makes traveling long distances troublesome. If the electrical grid runs mostly on fossil fuels....
With that being said, we make the best environmentally friendly decisions based on what we can do with what is available. Have fun traveling in your new car!