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Dr Robert
Electricity is generated by other means (wind, nuclear, etc.). I'm sure any fossil fuel used to generate the electricity for a green car would be less than burning it directly. But does anyone know what the comparison is? Say for 100 miles?
Answer
I happen to remember that it takes around 1 pound of coal to make a kilowatt-hour of electricity for end use (taking transmission efficiencies into account.) A typical electric car gets around 4 miles to the kilowatt-hour (this number takes into account all the various efficiencies of the electric motor, battery and electronics), so 100 miles would require about 25 pounds of coal.
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Let's compare to gasoline. Electricity (plus other fossil fuel energy) is also used to refine oil into gasoline. The US Energy Information Administration estimates around 6 kilowatt-hours is used to refine each gallon of gasoline.
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So, assuming the same coal-powered electricity, refining one gallon of gas would require 6 pounds of coal. A 25-MPG car, then, would require 24 pounds of coal plus 4 gallons of gasoline (33 pounds of gasoline) to drive the same 100 miles (57 total pounds of fossil fuel.) Diesel is more efficient (less refining energy, and higher MPG), but the total weight figure would only change by a few pounds.
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The above assumes 100% coal is used for electricity, which is not the case of course. Energy Information Administration figures from 2012 show that coal use has fallen to about a third of electricity generated.
I happen to remember that it takes around 1 pound of coal to make a kilowatt-hour of electricity for end use (taking transmission efficiencies into account.) A typical electric car gets around 4 miles to the kilowatt-hour (this number takes into account all the various efficiencies of the electric motor, battery and electronics), so 100 miles would require about 25 pounds of coal.
*
Let's compare to gasoline. Electricity (plus other fossil fuel energy) is also used to refine oil into gasoline. The US Energy Information Administration estimates around 6 kilowatt-hours is used to refine each gallon of gasoline.
*
So, assuming the same coal-powered electricity, refining one gallon of gas would require 6 pounds of coal. A 25-MPG car, then, would require 24 pounds of coal plus 4 gallons of gasoline (33 pounds of gasoline) to drive the same 100 miles (57 total pounds of fossil fuel.) Diesel is more efficient (less refining energy, and higher MPG), but the total weight figure would only change by a few pounds.
*
The above assumes 100% coal is used for electricity, which is not the case of course. Energy Information Administration figures from 2012 show that coal use has fallen to about a third of electricity generated.
When will electric cars be the only car?
Cody
Instead of gas cars? If all cars were electric it would help the environment a lot. It would make the air healthier for humans and animals to breathe. It would also help plants and trees grow better and healthier.
So do you think that anytime soon electric cars electrically charged will be mainstream soon? I've seen pics of futuristic electric cars that will eventually look very good and they will look very cool. So it would be nice. What do you think?
Answer
Maybe 30 or 40 years. You do know the electricity it takes to charge an electric car comes from coal burning electric power plants which creates pollution right.
No matter how main stream electric cars become, there's always going to be some amount of gasoline. I can assure you of this because my '69 Camaro doesn't run on electricity and the other 30 million classic car enthusiasts sure the heck aren't going to just park there cars and take up a new hobby. Not to mention all the other uses for gasoline.
Check out BIGFOOT #20. The worlds first all electric powered Monster truck---> http://bigfoot4x4.com/2012/1113_bf20.html
Maybe 30 or 40 years. You do know the electricity it takes to charge an electric car comes from coal burning electric power plants which creates pollution right.
No matter how main stream electric cars become, there's always going to be some amount of gasoline. I can assure you of this because my '69 Camaro doesn't run on electricity and the other 30 million classic car enthusiasts sure the heck aren't going to just park there cars and take up a new hobby. Not to mention all the other uses for gasoline.
Check out BIGFOOT #20. The worlds first all electric powered Monster truck---> http://bigfoot4x4.com/2012/1113_bf20.html
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Title Post: How much fossil fuel would it take to generate the electricity used to power an electric car?
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