I have a financed Tesla that hasn't driven enough miles to offset the embodied carbon (we're a one car family who walks wherever we can). I'd love to get rid of it because as I'm mad about Musk and Trump, and I'm really afraid someone will protest while my 2 year old is in the car, putting him at risk.
If I sell— and it's a terrible financial decision (laid off in the fall)—I will assuage some of my fears and worries, but I will make the world worse for everyone else (more carbon in the atmosphere).
Needlessly replacing a working item is over consumption. An EV has much more embodied carbon compared to an ICE vehicle and needs 20,000 miles to "break even." I'm likely 2 years away from that given our driving habits.
You could argue that the next driver will pick up the slack for me, but I can't guarantee that to be the case.
While both those points would normally be valid, this is a pretty unique one-time event.
The best way to look at it is that cars are getting redistributed: left-leaning people that bought Teslas are trading them to right-leaning people (that's who are buying such cars today).
Those right-leaning people are getting fairly good deals from their perspective, and they'll use those cars, same as any traded car.
In fact, this is probably going to be a net win for the environment, because for many of those right-leaning people this will be their first electric vehicle, and some of them will continue that habit going forward. This is bringing EVs to a population that was resistant to them until now.
If I sell— and it's a terrible financial decision (laid off in the fall)—I will assuage some of my fears and worries, but I will make the world worse for everyone else (more carbon in the atmosphere).