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

Skip to comments.

GAO: Electric Cars Won't Reduce Carbon Emissions
HotAir.com ^ | July 10, 2009

Posted on 07/10/2009 11:38:59 AM PDT by WhiteCastle

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-50 next last
To: sr4402

I’m not one to discount the potential for technological advancement, but given the current state of battery technology, there is no way we are even anywhere close to being able to replace liquid-fueled cars with purely battery powered ones.

Not only is range ridiculous, but recharging is a serious issue. I simply do not see how they will ever be able to compress a recharge cycle into the amount of time it takes to pump 10 gallons of gas.

Maybe this would be somewhat workable for city commuting. But frankly, if I wanted to live in an urban setting where the limitations of a battery-powered car might be acceptable, I’d be more likely to not bother and use public transportation.


21 posted on 07/10/2009 12:14:15 PM PDT by Zeddicus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: WhiteCastle

As though the radical left really cares!


22 posted on 07/10/2009 12:14:52 PM PDT by Oldpuppymax (AGENDA OF THE LEFT EXPOSED)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: WhiteCastle

Where are we going to dispose of all of these monster worn out batteries?

What’s the environmental impact of this disposal?

Has there been comprehensive studies on the subject?


23 posted on 07/10/2009 12:15:47 PM PDT by Gator113 (I live in "one of the largest Muslim countries in the world." Imam Obama told me so.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Erik Latranyi
I’ve said this before......why trade big oil for monopolistic electricity?

It can't be monopolistic when you can generate your needs on your roof.

24 posted on 07/10/2009 12:18:17 PM PDT by ColdWater
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: WhiteCastle

I would be proud to drive a car powered by domestic coal.

And remember, CO2 produced by American coal does not cause global warming.


25 posted on 07/10/2009 12:18:18 PM PDT by dangerdoc (dangerdoc (not actually dangerous any more))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DannyTN
Don't rule out hydrogen as an alternative for Lithium batteries. Hydrogen wouldn't be dependent on any other country. And either Hydrogen or non-lithium batteries could provide us the energy independence we need to keep the next oil price shock from derailing our economy again.

That's more like it. With enough nuke power to make hydrogen production practical, this is a far better alternative to battery-powered cars. Still huge hurdles to overcome though to setup nation-wide distribution for liquid hrydogen though, not to mention retrofits for storage and transfer at fueling stations.

I still like it better than battery-powered cars though, which IMO is just silly.

26 posted on 07/10/2009 12:19:10 PM PDT by Zeddicus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: WhiteCastle
GAO: Electric Cars Won't Reduce Carbon Emissions

Gee, what a surprise.

27 posted on 07/10/2009 12:20:17 PM PDT by DustyMoment (FloriDUH - proud inventors of pregnant/hanging chads and judicide!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Zeddicus

“Not only is range ridiculous, but recharging is a serious issue. I simply do not see how they will ever be able to compress a recharge cycle into the amount of time it takes to pump 10 gallons of gas.”

I think the best idea is the plug-in hybrid. You’d plug it in overnight, and then if your daily commute is 20-30 miles or less, you could do it all on batteries.

For longer trips, the gas (or better yet, diesel) engine kicks in.

On the fast-recharge front, the use of carbon nanotubes in capacitance style batteries may compress charge times to just a few minutes. A group at MIT is working with that technology.


28 posted on 07/10/2009 12:25:29 PM PDT by PreciousLiberty
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: PreciousLiberty
I agree, gas-battery hybrids make far more sense than just battery.

On the fast-recharge front, the use of carbon nanotubes in capacitance style batteries may compress charge times to just a few minutes. A group at MIT is working with that technology.

Very cool, didn't know about that. Although I'm a bit terrified to think of the voltage/current required to fast-charge a capacitor capable of powering a car. O.O

29 posted on 07/10/2009 12:29:53 PM PDT by Zeddicus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Zeddicus
but given the current state of battery technology. Let me complete that "being manufactured in current production". This is currently true now but may not in the near future.

Molecular Battery Technology has produced batteries which can hold double the charge (or more) in 1/5 the charging time. Another Breathing battery technology did a similar thing recently.

I'm believing that making these batteries survive rugged use and the heavy recharging involved is the current challenge.

Like most inventions. It may take a little stumbling on. Like Edison with Tungsten or Alexander Graham bell with Sulfuric acid. The components are there, but needs to be made practical.

Solar power is about to make similar leaps as well.

And Brushless generators have been made. If these can be produced at a personal level... It would be nice to get off the Grid, before Obama blasts Energy Prices through the Roof!

30 posted on 07/10/2009 12:30:55 PM PDT by sr4402
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: ANGGAPO
And the folks at the bottom of the pecking order better think about tents and Spam.

Or to get off the Grid.

31 posted on 07/10/2009 12:32:35 PM PDT by sr4402
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: DannyTN

FYI, they just figured out how to make a nearly four fold increase in hydrogen yield from a given amount of electricity.

Turns out that if you hydrocrack urine (i.e., process city sewage through a reactor) you get hydrogen frighteningly easily.


32 posted on 07/10/2009 12:35:26 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Zeddicus

They still have a bit of an explosion/meltdown problem.... and even if they didn’t, you would require at least a 480V drop to every house to recharge them.


33 posted on 07/10/2009 12:36:39 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Zeddicus

Well, batteries would be great if there are enough improvements in the batteries, so that we aren’t having to replace them so often or recharge every 100 miles.

But I think batteries are still in the not yet viable category. While Hydrogen is actually implementable.


34 posted on 07/10/2009 12:39:43 PM PDT by DannyTN
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: sr4402

Yeh....Start at $50,000....I’ll get two!!!


35 posted on 07/10/2009 12:47:37 PM PDT by Sacajaweau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: DannyTN

Hydrogen powered flying pigs.


36 posted on 07/10/2009 12:56:12 PM PDT by norraad ("What light!">Blues Brothers)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Zeddicus
Doesn’t electricity just magically come out of the wall?

Doesn’t electricity just magically come out of the wall? < /DUmmie mode>

I tried my best to explain that to a liberal. She was so dense, I finally gave up. Her neighborhood has underground utility wiring.

Her argument was: "There are NO electric poles and wires on my street."

37 posted on 07/10/2009 12:58:08 PM PDT by Arrowhead1952 (Jimmy Carter - now the second worst POTUS ever. BHO has #1 spot in his sights.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: WhiteCastle
In fact, the problem could be made worse as demand goes up at coal-fired electrical plants.

Why else do you think they're pushing "cap & trade?" They want to make the cost of coal-fired electricity impossibly high just as demand spikes due to plug-in hybrids, so that they can funnel money to their cronies in wind and solar.

38 posted on 07/10/2009 12:58:42 PM PDT by mvpel (Michael Pelletier)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sr4402
Computer prices went down because.....

Car prices??? NEVER!!!!

39 posted on 07/10/2009 12:59:22 PM PDT by Sacajaweau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: sr4402
Electricity can be produced by Hydroelectric, Solar and Wind power easily. None of these requires a power plant, but those that do are very convenient.

Does the definition of convenient include affordable and reliable? I can make electricity by rigging a generator up to a stationary bike but has a couple drawbacks such as being unable to supply much power and, well I am too far out of shape to run my air conditioner and 52" LCD TV simultaneously...

I would like to hear at least one feasible idea for replacing 2,000 billion kWh of electricity with even a combination of hydro, solar, and wind. That's before a few million people start plugging in their cars.

Given all of this, do you thing the Government (GAO) should tell the car companies Not to make Electric Cars??

I think the government should keep their noses out of it alltogether and let the companies make the products that the companies want to invest in. The market will decide whether they chose well or not.

40 posted on 07/10/2009 12:59:59 PM PDT by !1776!
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-50 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

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