Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: Magnum44
I’ve always been taught that gasoline was one the most efficient energy storage medians. Your numbers, which I have not seen before but have no reason to doubt, really quantify that efficiency well.

The numbers tell an interesting story about the lunacy of the left if you look them up and do the math.

The EPA rated the range of Tesla cars with 40 kwh batteries at 139 miles. Most owners reported less than that especially after the cars got a few miles on them. I used the 40 kwh battery as an example because its energy storage capacity so closely matches that of a gallon of gasoline.

The 85 kwh battery (approximately 80 kwh usable when new) weighs 1200 pounds and holds the energy equivalent of approximately 2 gallons of gasoline.

To most greenies a range of close to 140 miles on a full charge under absolutely optimal conditions might sound pretty good. Of course the devil is always in the details. Anything less than optimal conditions and that range can drop off dramatically. The other thing that one should consider is that there are inefficiencies in electric power generation, electric power transmission, charger inefficiencies, and battery charging and discharging inefficiencies. A modern coal fired or natural gas electrical generation facility has about 40% thermal efficiency.

Coal contains approximately 6150 kwh per ton but at typical modern powerplant thermal efficiencies a ton of coal generates approximately 2460 kwh per ton. Drop that by at least half for transmission, charger, and battery inefficiencies we are down to 1230 kwh per ton using a Tesla battery. So if you do the math 1230 / 40 = 30.75 40 kwh charging cycles. 2000 pounds of coal/ 30.75 = 65 pounds per charging cycle. So it takes 65 pounds of coal burned and 186 pounds of CO2 produced to charge that expensive, heavy 1 gallon Tesla energy container just 1 time. If you are really, really lucky this 65 pounds of coal will take you and your Tesla almost 140 miles down the highway on flat ground with no wind.

The actual energy efficiency of a Tesla car from coal fired power plant through multiple transformers, hundreds of miles of transmission lines, charger and battery heat loss is not really that great. A Tesla is considerably less energy inefficient than a much lighter economy car. And this does not even begin to take into account the amount of energy required to mine the ingredients refine them and manufacture the battery and its components to.

Current Tesla cars are not economically viable compared to gasoline powered cars even with government subsidies. So lets be honest... The only really "valid" reason to buy a Tesla is if you want to impress an "environmentally conscious" airhead of the opposite sex.

44 posted on 09/12/2018 12:32:29 AM PDT by fireman15
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies ]


To: fireman15

Thermodynamics was not my favorite engineering course back in college, but even I understood your well presented argument. Wish you could see similar explanation on media so people could see how ridiculous electric cars are. I do think there is some use for hybrids. They seem to make more sense, taking advantage of stored momentum and not needing external charging. But I am not convinced they are worth the extra up front cost compared to a gasoline compact.


45 posted on 09/12/2018 5:47:27 AM PDT by Magnum44 (My comprehensive terrorism plan: Hunt them down and kill them)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson