For starters let’s all agree that the combustion engine that exists in all cars of today are a major contributor to the pollution which causes global warming around the world. With emerging markets only getting stronger (such as India, China etc.) there’ll be undoubtedly a much larger number of vehicles on the road very soon from now, only worsening the problem.
So is the electric car a solution? Well, for starters EVs have no tailpipe or evaporative emissions at all, since there’s no fuel or combustion system. One should also consider the amount of “oil” used when a car goes in for oil changes, air filters, tune-ups, mufflers, timing belts, or emission tests (if that doesn’t make too much sense, I highly recommend you watch “Who Killed the Electric Car?” where they explain this concept in detail) - EVs are virtually maintenance-free.
However, there are those that will argue that EV’s don’t solve the problem, since all it does is transfer the emissions from the car itself to the power station which is charging the EV on a daily basis. Certainly there are emissions associated with fossil-fuel-burning power plants, but the emissions directly associated with charging EVs are extremely low. Let’s not forget that if the EV is charged from a zero emission power source such as nuclear, hydroelectric, solar, and wind power, then the electric car is 100% clean! The overall mix of power plants in the U.S. is 55 percent coal, 9 percent natural gas, and 4 percent oil (*World Resources Institute.) The other 32 percent include other energy sources such as hydroelectric, solar, wind, nuclear and geothermal. Although half of the U.S. uses coal-fired plants for electricity, EVs recharging from these facilities are predicted to produce less CO2 than conventional combustion vehicles, and will reduce CO2 emissions in the country by about 20 percent. Imagine what EV’s that are being charged from renewable sources would do to the emissions value? In France most of the electricity comes from nuclear power plants. Hence, emissions produced to charge EVs would be cut down to almost non-existant across the board.
The next issue critics raise is that the country could not possibly support the energy requirement of a sudden surge of EVs on the road. The Electric Power Resource Institute (EPRI) estimates that the U.S. can support 50 million EVs without requiring a single extra power plant. Another study puts this number closer to 20 million. Thousands more could be added if they are charged at night during off-peak hours, which is the time that majority of EVs would be charged anyway. 20 million EVs, each with 100,000 miles on the odometer, would reduce CO2 emissions by 500 000 000 000 000 kilgorams (that’s 500 million tons) in the U.S. alone, without requiring any more power plants.
In conclusion, with the constant development of new technology designed to reduce emmissions and improve the efficiency of power plans, thus far EVs continue to be the best solution towards attaining clean air, and reducing our dependence on oil.
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December 11th, 2007 at 11:15 pm
A great article. I just can’t believe some still slam EV’s. They are either un-informed or work for big oil.
December 12th, 2007 at 6:43 am
Thanks for the compliments guys! I know how you feel Caroll - with the amount of power behind the major oil conglomerates, I don’t think it’d surprise anybody if they have had a major influence on progress towards any other form of energy which threatened their coffers!
March 12th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
Ruggero you are right, those are the real roadblocks to this superior technology. EV technology and fuel cells are simply technologically superior, but there are some skewed economics at work that throw things off. Great article!
March 21st, 2008 at 2:28 am
Good article.Eletric is the way to go.Why, there are technologies being developed that the public do not know about. For example, batteries that are lighter, cheaper and with more capacity. CSIRO in Australia has a battery that meets the above.Electric motors in each wheel which include braking and transmission.Solar cells that produce five times more
electricity.Light weight materials, nano technology etc etc.The race is on but only one technology will be the standard, electric.Lets say only cars that take us to and from work plus local shopping are bought. Average travel per day approx. 50 miles.Pollution reduced in cities by 50%.Drain on power plant on off peak an extra 4.25% plus home solar.My calculations. Am I qualified to comment about the above. Yes I am, as well as any electrical engineer specialising in electric motors a/c and d/c. My prediction…Hybrids are finished. They filled a gap and did a great job.Electric is taking over.
They will cost when in full production, medium size four seater four door..
retail under 20000 dollars.
Think about this.Electric motor in each wheel if needed, at least 400 miles between charging, under $20000.Charging in one to two hours partly by solar.Total cost per mile running cost about 10cents.None of the above is a fairy tail. It is here NOW. It is only a matter of time before electric cars are the norm.Ford, GM etc had better wake up their ideas because there are start up companies with capital waiting to produce. They are trying to get the legal rights to the patents. When they do look out the big boys unless you stop stuffing around you will be buried by new auto companies.Also, don’t forget this is not rocket science this is electronics, a body, safety,seats, mirrors etc. Quite simple really.
The internal combustion engine has done a great job,but, it is old technology and gone as far as it can.Remember the old calculator, pull the handle, clang clang lots of levers etc. Now the computer, powerful and really quite simple even a 10 year old can repair them.The engine as we know it is like the clang clang.
The above only applies to the car used by the average motorist for local to medium range transport.
Want more power for heavy transport etc. at this stage there is only one contender diesel. This could change.Thats another story.
March 31st, 2008 at 3:03 pm
We cannot go against a genuine thing which is ZAP !
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:57 pm
You should check out the new ZAP electric vehicles, trucks and sedans, they are great and are already working in important companies like UPS.
Zero Air Polution thats what ZAP stands for, imagine!