Robert Rolf wrote:
> Martin wrote:
>
>   
>> That's some great information on ethanol, Robert, but we're talking 
>> about electric cars. Ethanol is not used to produce electricity in the 
>> US. Try the EIA if you want some generation statistics. It's either 
>> coal, hydroelectric, or nuclear (sum=95%+)
>> I'm going to consider this politics and not respond to this thread anymore.
>> -
>> Martin
>>     
>
> My point was that people are arguing that EV's are more efficient
> without considering ALL the input costs.
> Just like the ethanol folks.
>
> Solar panels are great, except that producing them uses huge
> amounts of electricity and produces very toxic wastes (arsene
> gas, arsenic, volatile organics, etc.).
>
> EV's are great, except that charging them with polluting plants
> is 'false' green thinking.
>
> R
>   
And I've already said that when charging from the electricity grid of 
the continental US, most of your energy is from coal, nuclear, or 
hydroelectric. The "but the electricity comes from somewhere!" argument 
is NOT new.

My car gets an average 40 miles per gallon. The energy content of 1 
gallon of gas is about 36 kilowatt hours (131 megajoules). That's 1.1 
miles per kilowatt hour. A Honda Civic conversion might get around 300 
watt*hours per mile. That's 3 miles per kWh. Now I know you're not going 
to accept my hypothesis based on "tank" to wheel efficiency, but if you 
make reasonable estimations the numbers are still in favor of electric 
cars.

Others have hypothesized that you can "follow the money" to estimate how 
efficient something is. If we assumed that gasoline wasn't an expensive, 
(HIGHLY SUBSIDIZED) commodity, this would even more in favor of electrics:

100 miles in my Civic would take about 2.5 gallons of gas. That's 90 kWh 
of energy. The electric conversion would take 33 kWh. Electricity cost 
varies, but it is averaged to $0.106 a kWh (per EIA). The electricity 
costs $3.30. The gasoline costs about $10.50.

The electric car also uses/leaks no oil, antifreeze, has half (if that) 
as many moving parts, is quiet, etc.
I'm not trying to sell you a car here.

-
Martin
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