Posted on 06/27/2015 7:21:39 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Is that electric car in the driveway — yes, that one with the long cord tethering it to the inside of the garage — a sign of deep environmental concern and human goodness? Or is it an indication that someone has been duped?
A growing body of evidence shows that electric cars are more harmful to the environment than comparable fossil-fuel burners. The latest is a study — "Environmental Benefits From Driving Electric Vehicles?" — out this month from the National Bureau of Economic Research.
The study's authors — economics and business professors — say that "rather than simply accepting the assertion of environmental benefits from electric vehicle use," they conducted "a rigorous comparison of the environmental consequences of gasoline and electric powered vehicles, specifically by quantifying the externalities (both greenhouse gases and local air pollution) generated by driving these vehicles."
This rigorous comparison determined that electric cars, despite the hype, aren't as environmentally clean as gasoline-powered cars.
This shouldn't be a complete surprise, given that much of the electricity used to charge electric cars is generated by coal plants, which produce 39% of the nation's electricity. The next biggest producer is natural gas, another fossil fuel, which churns out 27% of our power. Nor is this the first time electric cars' dirty little secret has been uncovered.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.investors.com ...
Just now figuring that out, are they?
For every pound of emission that does not spew from the exhaust of a electric car, there is an equal amount of emissions spewing from a power plant...along with a bunch of toxic batteries to dispose of.
I have been calling them coal burners for years. Oddly liberals think that electricity just comes out of the wall like magic. Ok, maybe that isn’t so odd, they don’t ever think things through.
engineers understand there’s no free lunch ....liberals never do
In front of the local Whole Foods there are 2 meters where you can charge up your electric car. No one will tell me how much it cost to charge your car from flat dead to full charge. I am just curious and I would like to compare it to a full tank of gas.
It feels good, and that’s all that matters.
I’ve tried for ages to get an apples to apples comparison for mileage of electric vs. gas vehicles.
IOW, if you burn a gallon of gas in a vehicle, and an energy-equivalent amount of fuel in a power plant, which vehicle goes farther?
The gas vehicle is pretty easy. Put a gallon in and drive till the car stops.
For the electric car you have to calculate efficiency of generation, transmission losses, energy lost in charging the battery, energy lost in using the battery to drive the vehicle. It all adds up.
Closest I’ve been able to get is that it’s about a wash.
If anybody knows of actual non-fanboy calculations, I’m interested.
The standard Tesla comes with a 65 kwh battery. Average US price for residential electricity last year was 12.5 cents.
So, in theory, it takes $8.13 to charge the battery from dead to full charge. This will carry you 230 miles at a steady 55 mph, giving you a fuel cost per mile of 3.5 cents.
This compares to my elderly Vibe getting 35 mpg and gas at $2.50/gallon, for a fuel cost per mile of 7.1 cents.
I’m paying taxes to maintain the roads, while the Tesla guy isn’t. I also suspect there’s energy lost when charging, which increases the amount of electricity it takes to fully charge the battery.
I like electric cars because I have a geek streak, not because they are practical The governmert likes them, a sure indication that they are a waste of money.
Fuel tax here in FL is 55 cents. Without the tax my cost is $1.95/gallon. Which makes my cost per mile 5.6 cents.
Charging losses are typically around 25%, so the cost per mile for the Tesla goes to about 4.4 cents.
I think. Nobody quote me.
On the gripping hand, the Tesla S is a much nicer car than mine.
The cost for electricity in California $.33 per kwh after the first 900 kwh is used in a month. Since most people will use about 900 kwh/m without an electric car, when they plug their new car into the grid they will be paying $.33 per kwh to charge their car. The Tesla would cost 65 kwh x $.33 or about $22 for a complete charge. Now, if you pump 65 kwh into your Tesla for 22 work days per month your electic bill would increase by $22 x 22 days or $484 per month.
But the dirty secret is the batteries themselves, they degrade a bit every charging cycle (loose capacity), and they are heavier than heck. The more weight you drag around, the more energy you need. A non electric version of the car is significantly lighter. Just adding a 200 pound passenger or groceries impacts your mileage, try packing in 800 pounds of batteries.
I would love to own one, but just cannot justify the economics. The only reason to get one is emotional, therefore they tend to be liberal wagons.
“On the gripping hand...”
I find it interesting to see someone besides me use that phrase outside the novel.
Excellent post.
“No one will tell me how much it cost to charge your car from flat dead to full charge”
More importantly, how long?
Fairly often I will say, on the one hand, on the other hand, and on the gripping hand.
Dang few people get it.
One of the best SF novels ever written. And from a very conservative author.
Did you read Oath of Fealty?
Yes, but electric car drivers CARE more than you.
Think of it as Evolution in Action.
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