• Home
• Reviews
• News
• Downloads
• CNET TV

About me

My posting summary

1 to 1 of 1

My comments

• ERA OF THE ELECTRIC CAR ? ENVIRONMENT AND GLOBAL WARMING
  
  The era of the electric car is here. Detroit?s claims for electric cars indicate nearly immediate limited production with a rapid buildup. Other start-ups make similar claims. Promised mileage claims vary from a modest 40 mile range to rather exaggerated claims of over 250 miles. Both range and cost are battery dependent and battery development is an important and critical consideration. Presently batteries are expensive, heavy and require special handling for disposal. We can, however, expect to overcome these technological problems with diligent research and development.
  
  Presently automobiles use fossil fuels for their propulsion system. Converting to electric cars will immediately shift the burden to the electric power grid. The power grid at present runs at near capacity during muchof the year. Summer heat and winter cold drive the system to critical conditions at times. At present the US uses more petroleum for fuel than all the coal used for electric generation. This will put a very severe burden on our electric power system if we convert our transportation to electric cars. In the foreseeable medium term future the only way to meet the power requirements for electric transportation is coal. Coal fired electricity generation plants can be built quicker and cheaper in the capacity required than other power sources. Other non-fossil fuel power sources can supply a fraction of the required power over time and will supply increasing proportions over time. But coal interests will prevail for some time if the conversion is attempted.
  
  The purpose of the electric car is reducing our dependence on imported fuel and mitigation of global warming. Converting our transportation to fossil fuel generated electricity can meet one requirement, however coal produces considerably more carbon dioxide per unit energy than petroleum does. From the point of view of global warming we are worse off by considerable.
  
  Coal interests and the power generation industry make strong claims for clean coal. Their definition of clean coal is removal of toxic products of combustion, not removal of carbon dioxide gas. No clean coal plants exist nor are likely to exist capable of supplying any reasonable share of power generation for the electric car era. Enhanced global warming will be the result.
  
  LINK TO GLOBAL WARMING MITIGATION:
  
  NEGATIVE FOOTPRINT In reply to: "Better Place eyes $1 billion electric car network for Bay Area"

  February 11, 2009

  0 replies