Electric vehicles are better for the environment (installation, costs, propane)
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The energy in gasoline and coal is contained in the C-C and the C-H bonds. It's released as those bonds are oxidized (co2 & h2o waste products). doesn't make a heckuvalot of difference what the actual configuration of the fuel molecule is to start with.
As I said in my first post here, the actual kinetic energy of the vehicles are essentially the same.
What's the energy efficiency of a coal fired plant (65% lost as heat) + the efficiency of the transmission process (5% lost as heat) + efficiency of the charging process (10%+ lost as heat)? It seems that at least 80% of the coal's chemical energy never makes it to the drive wheels.
I would calculate that an ICE and an EV powered by fossil fuel sourced juice have about the same co2 output. Now add in the inefficiency of battery power in cold weather and the EV is behind in the race.
Guido, the fact that I'm a degreed engineer, with a professional license who works in the field is enough.
Not true. It shows the wind resource is greater at night. That isn't true everywhere, but in the Plains states where our major wind resource exists, it's true most of the time.
While we're at it: average energy consumption of EV is 30kW/100 miles. Average cost of grid power in US is @22cents/kW (call it 20c) so it costs ~ $6 to travel 100 miles in an EV, An ICE vehicle getting the average 25 mpg and gas $2.50/gal goes the 100 miles for a cost of ~$10-- an extra $4 for the peace of mind & convenience that you'll get there and won't have to wait 6 hrs to refuel before you start for home.
The EV will be a niche usage vehicle for the foreseeable future. You engineers have been working on an improved battery since Henry Ford's first attempt at a horseless carriage and haven't really made much progress. (BTW- they dug up a thing that looks remarkably like a Leyden jar in the ruins of ancient Babylon- 5000 yrs old.... They finally gave up on the Philosopher's Stone too a while back.)
Average residential price of electricity for residential consumers in 2017 was 12.89¢/kWh. Average price of gasoline Oct 2018 $2.78. Using your other numbers EV cost for 100 miles $3.87. ICE $11.12. ICE is 4 times as expensive. If you drive 10,000 miles a year that's a savings of $834
Electric cars are not the answer.
Barring a technological breakthrough, the most efficient form of land transport is steel wheel on steel rail - preferably electric powered. In fact, rail is 20 times more efficient than rubber tire on pavement. In plain English, you can move 20 times as much cargo or passengers via rail for the same fuel as used by a car, truck or bus.
Thus for an optimized consolidation of population in villages, towns, and cities, it is paramount that rail transportation be available, in all forms and modes. Rebuilding the urban streetcar network, the interurban lines, and adding track to accommodate fast and light passenger trains would make city life more attractive and less expensive.
But the 'hegemony' won't allow it.
(Automobile mfg, petroleum, pavement, and others)
If Americans shifted to a transport system that would slash fuel costs by 90% (and effectively wipe out all those who got wealthy by subterfuge and guile), you can understand their reluctance.
In 1963, Alweg proposed to the city of Los Angeles a monorail system that would be designed, built, operated and maintained by Alweg. Alweg promised to take all financial risk from the construction, and the system would be repaid through fares collected. The City Council rejected the proposal in favor of no transit at all. (thanks to Standard Oil)
“A former Alweg engineer once told me that there was much excitement for the proposal at the time, that is until Standard Oil got involved. Practically overnight support for the project disappeared amongst LA politicians.”
....
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out Americans were punked.
Average residential price of electricity for residential consumers in 2017 was 12.89¢/kWh....
That's average retail price. Add in the taxes which average 11cents/kW-hr.
In my estimate, I lowered the price of both electricity and gasoline ~10% for easy arithmetic....Look up "Fermi problem." It may help you gain perspective in analyzing situations.
...the most efficient form of land transport is steel wheel on steel...
Thus for an optimized consolidation of population in villages, towns, and cities, ....
The key word is "optimized," as opposed to maximized or minimized.
RR/trolley is great to get people or goods from point A to point B. The problem is you still gotta get to point A and away from point B.
Our RR system moves freight very well but you still need trucks to get most of it to and from the terminals.
Same with commuting by trolley-- it's great if you start and end reasonably close to the rail line, but how far do you want to walk to get to it?
Your point about lobbying is well taken. I come from Chicago. It was so cold there one day, I saw my alderman with his hands in his own pockets for a change...(.Laid out in regular grid pattern, Chicago lends itself well to public transportation and was used by all up until the 60s or so when the Unions took over-- They forced wages up so high that it was no longer cheaper to ride than to drive yourself.)
"This post’s message (the abstract, if this were a normal clisci peer reviewed paper) is simple. Hybrid vehicles make economic and ‘climate’ sense. Plug ins may or may not depending on their architecture. Full electric vehicles (EVs) make neither economic nor climate sense."
Several of the comments from readers following the article point out that cost per mile comparing ICEs with EVs will disappear as EVs become more commonplace and road use taxes replace gasoline taxes.
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