Naw, the average loss for transmission is 6%.
“Electric cars and batteries just add another wasteful link in the distribution of that energy.”
Electric motors have efficiencies over 90%. Granted, the main energy loss is at the power plant, whether it be coal, natural gas, or nuclear. However, these plants are more efficient that the combustion engine under your hood. For all these reasons, and a few others, electricity costs about half of what gasoline costs on a per-mile basis.
“Vehicles powered by petroleum products will be around for a while longer based on their scientific and economic merits unless outlawed by the EPA and legislation. Nevertheless, we can still produce a lot of plastics and other synthetics from our oil.”
No doubt.
“I'm not anti-electric cars but they are not a must-have for me at this time. As long as social engineering attempts to influence the laws of science and economics in their favour, there will be people who believe them to be a solution to a non-existent problem.”
From what I've read, the “social engineering” issue seems to be the biggest holdup for conservatives. However, I do think there is a valid public interest in promoting electric vehicles. After spending a trillion dollars fighting the last oil war in Iraq, I think it is an extraordinarily good use of a few billion dollars to encourage a new technology that will prevent us from ever needing to worry about energy security again.
I think it is silly how some conservatives (not you, just in general) will gripe about a couple billion but are not bothered by spending our blood and a trillion of our treasure. One of the biggest electric car advocates I know is a conservative, Obama hating, lib-bashing Chevy Volt owner with an NRA sticker on his bumper. He was a desert storm veteran so he has strong opinions regarding why he bought his Volt.
I swear, if so many republican politicians had not been deluged with the hundreds of millions of dollars of campaign contributions that the Koch oil billionaires spread around, the Volt would never have been the political football that it turned out to be. I think the oil industry in general soiled their pants at the idea of a car with which you could drive the first 40 miles every day on electricity (and which only used gasoline if you needed to go on a trip).
That's 16% not counting losses in battery charge/discharge cycle. Granted electric motors have many advantages and are more efficient than the internal combustion engines they would replace. But what you see is the product of a previous generation of social engineering by the auto industry to suppress the electric vehicle and promote the internal combustion engine. Social engineering now or then is wrong, let the consumer decide and the free market provide what they want based on the prevailing science and the economy.
...electricity costs about half of what gasoline costs on a per-mile basis.
As the price of petroleum and gasoline decline, the costs per mile favour gasoline for a while longer. As the efficiency of the ICE is maxed, then they will have to turn to other technology, perhaps unforseen today. Let us watch and see how the newest version of the electric car is accepted by consumers and whether we have reached a turning point in personal transportation.
...the “social engineering” issue seems to be the biggest holdup...
Not to the sheeple. They always find it easier to accept rather than question the science and motives (political, economic, world, etc.) behind the issues that are presented in our society today. They let the government kick the can down the road and put off rather than resolve critical issues that need immediate attention today in favour of social issues. They worry about issues that have not yet developed or may never in the future. All the social engineering has failed to meet their expectations. I don't think an electric car matters one way or another to them.
I think it is silly how some conservatives (not you, just in general) will gripe about a couple billion but are not bothered by spending our blood and a trillion of our treasure.
When it comes to down to it, it is always about money and how it is spent. If money is unlimited, then why worry about money - in the socialists liberal mindset there will always be enough to go round. Many consider our blood and treasure to be unlimited. But in the real world and the mindset of the capitalist conservative, money is limited by our economy and our ability to produce the goods and services we desire as a society of consumers. It is important to us that we spend our money wisely and not waste our blood and treasure. Yes, we are bothered...
I have spent a number of years researching alternate solutions to the energy crisis and what as an individual I can do to maintain my energy costs and independence from more government. I have found solar, wind, and other sources of energy came at a cost at which I was not willing to pay. The return on my investment was too little or long term to warrant changing to my lifestyle to adopt the newer technologies. When electric cars become more practical and cost effective for me to dump the gas guzzlers, I'll be the first in line.