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Jeff P
We all know that there is a tremendous benefit to driving a zero-emissions electric vehicle, but that electric charge still comes from a coal fired power plant, in most places.
Can anyone steer me towards any info that shows that, even with the current 20th century methods of mass producing electricity, charging and driving electric cars is more environmentally friendly than normal high mpg gasoline burning cars?
Thanks!
Answer
Electric motors & batteries are much more efficient than combustion engines. Current engines are about 12-20% efficient, whilst electric motors can be 90%+ efficient.
From then it depends on how efficient your power station, grid and batteries are. The latest Economist quotes, per kWh, a combustion engine can drive 1.5-2.5km, a diesel hybrid 3.2km and an electric car up to 6.3km.
Anyhow, the Chevrolet Volt claims to drive 64km on a charge of 8.8kWh:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Volt
Or about 0.14kWh/km.
CO2 emissions from a coal power station are somewhere between 900-1300g/kWh. Assuming a relatively new power station it's about 900g:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_footprint#Carbon_footprint_for_various_types_of_electricity_production
So a km driven in the Volt on coal powered electricity is just under 125g CO2.
A similar sized car, the UK's Ford Focus Zetex, gets 155g CO2/km. Small cars and hybrids get lower, though.
The UK grid electricity average is about 430g/kWh and in the US it's under 700g. So a Volt in the UK currently gets 60g/km, lower than any marketed petrol or diesel car. In the US it's under 95g.
In France (mostly nuclear) it's something like 15g/km, over 90% lower than the Focus.
CO2 emissions from electricity in many developed nations will probably fall too because of efficiency and global warming concerns.
The UK is planning 30% renewable electricity and a new generation of nuclear power stations, and coal power stations can't be built without capturing part of their carbon.
Electric motors & batteries are much more efficient than combustion engines. Current engines are about 12-20% efficient, whilst electric motors can be 90%+ efficient.
From then it depends on how efficient your power station, grid and batteries are. The latest Economist quotes, per kWh, a combustion engine can drive 1.5-2.5km, a diesel hybrid 3.2km and an electric car up to 6.3km.
Anyhow, the Chevrolet Volt claims to drive 64km on a charge of 8.8kWh:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Volt
Or about 0.14kWh/km.
CO2 emissions from a coal power station are somewhere between 900-1300g/kWh. Assuming a relatively new power station it's about 900g:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_footprint#Carbon_footprint_for_various_types_of_electricity_production
So a km driven in the Volt on coal powered electricity is just under 125g CO2.
A similar sized car, the UK's Ford Focus Zetex, gets 155g CO2/km. Small cars and hybrids get lower, though.
The UK grid electricity average is about 430g/kWh and in the US it's under 700g. So a Volt in the UK currently gets 60g/km, lower than any marketed petrol or diesel car. In the US it's under 95g.
In France (mostly nuclear) it's something like 15g/km, over 90% lower than the Focus.
CO2 emissions from electricity in many developed nations will probably fall too because of efficiency and global warming concerns.
The UK is planning 30% renewable electricity and a new generation of nuclear power stations, and coal power stations can't be built without capturing part of their carbon.
Does charging electric cars use more energy than if you used a gas powered car?
Big Man
a lot of people have been saying that electric cars use just as much energy to charge them up as you would just using a gas powered car. Is this true?
Answer
Most electric cars still use less net energy than a conventional auto. Many electric cars have mile-per-gallon equivalent ratings to enable comparisons between energy use. The Nissan Leaf has a 99 mpg equivalent. The lower-speed Zap Xebra has a 150 mpg equivalent rating. So the electrics use quite a bit less net energy than gasoline cars.
Electric cars also have the advantage of great renewable energy potential. If you were to have a solar or wind electric charging station for your electric car, you would be using nearly free and limitless energy and producing effectively no emissions.
Most electric cars still use less net energy than a conventional auto. Many electric cars have mile-per-gallon equivalent ratings to enable comparisons between energy use. The Nissan Leaf has a 99 mpg equivalent. The lower-speed Zap Xebra has a 150 mpg equivalent rating. So the electrics use quite a bit less net energy than gasoline cars.
Electric cars also have the advantage of great renewable energy potential. If you were to have a solar or wind electric charging station for your electric car, you would be using nearly free and limitless energy and producing effectively no emissions.
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Title Post: How environmentally friendly is it currently to charge an electric car?
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