Would switching to electric powered cars help solve our energy problems? - Political Forum

Sebelius for VP, not Hillary · 07-21-2007, 05:43 AM

The way I see it, we are approaching peak oil, which is the real problem. Our economies in all the countries around the world continue to expand, which implies continued oil consumption. So we need an alternate power source, besides oil. Does the development of electric cars in any way help us out there?

From Popular Mechanics:

Quote:

Electric Cars Could Slash Global Warming by 2050 (but Harm Our Air)

While auto engineers continue tweaking designs for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and squabbling over the battery technology to power them, researchers today confirmed that the cars can, indeed, significantly cut our contributions to global warming. By 2050, a new study says, broad acceptance of PHEVs could cut up to 6.12 billion tons of greenhouse gases each year—approximately 2.5 times the amount currently emitted by power plants.

As detailed in our special report on the race for companies to develop a reliable battery for the electric car—one that will last eight to 10 years, produce sufficient range and not go up in flames–it may still be three years before concepts such as the Chevy Volt hit dealerships. But today’s report, co-authored by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), considers a future where 42 percent of the total U.S. auto fleet consists of PHEVs by 2030—and nearly doubles that by 2050.

“Next-generation PHEVs can reduce global warming and air pollution much more than regular hybrids—if we’re taking simultaneous action to clean the electric grid,” says Dan Lashof, science director of the Climate Center for NRDC. “They will certainly reduce dependence on foreign oil.”

Right now, electric power plants could power a huge number of PHEVs with little effect on the air quality from extra particulate—thanks largely to coal plants. Although the study shows PHEVs modestly improving air quality by 2030 in regions with heavy vehicle use, ozone levels and particulate matter could actually increase in areas near power plants. Mercury levels, too, may rise in some places, the report says, but PHEVs would not increase overall U.S. contributions to global mercury levels.

Of course, the NRDC-EPRI report assumes a drastic increase in plug-in sales in the next two decades (42 percent is admittedly high, EPRI’s Mark Duvall says) and, therefore, a heavier burden on the electrical grid. But America’s supply of electricity remains underutilized at night, and the combination of nighttime car charging and a more conservative growth estimate for PHEVs would probably mean a less negative impact on air quality.

When assuming a “moderate” saturation of hybrid electric cars—about 62 percent penetration by 2080—the report claims that national energy usage would increase by up to 8 percent from plug-in charges. But with 3 to 4 billion barrels of oil and 450 million metric tons of emissions wiped out at the same time, such an acceptance of PHEVs would be the atmospheric equivalent of removing “just a tick more than one-third of all cars on the road today,” says John Bryson, CEO of energy investment firm Edison International.

General Motors spoke up for the study today, insisting the Detroit giant was excited to study the findings. “We have made strong statements that we believe [PHEVs] are the future,” GM vehicle line director Tony Posawatz says. “As a company that has relied on 98 to 99 percent of the same energy, there is a business rationale for us.” And, it appears, a scientific one. —Tyghe Trimble and Julianne Pepitone

dahermit · 07-21-2007, 09:47 AM

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...Does the development of electric cars in any way help us out there?

I think that electric is the way to go. But, 1) the electric car technology has to improve. 2) Nuclear power must replace existing fossil fueled power plants.
Newly emerging technology is always very crude and electric car technology will improve over time.
Americans have a real fear of nuclear power plants that is not shared by Europe and elsewhere. As dangerous as nuclear power is, most of the negatives of it can be overcome. We really have little choice when it comes to nuclear power.

presluc · 07-21-2007, 03:42 PM

I just saw a show called "Who killed the electric car."
It had some very interesting points.
The one I think stuck out the most was the fact of no replacable parts just change the tires and the windsheild fluids.
no oil filters ,no air filters ect.
A mechanic serviceing the electric car could coms home with clean hands.

Sebelius for VP, not Hillary · 07-21-2007, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dahermit

I think that electric is the way to go. But, 1) the electric car technology has to improve. 2) Nuclear power must replace existing fossil fueled power plants.
Newly emerging technology is always very crude and electric car technology will improve over time.
Americans have a real fear of nuclear power plants that is not shared by Europe and elsewhere. As dangerous as nuclear power is, most of the negatives of it can be overcome. We really have little choice when it comes to nuclear power.

I've only watched a brief bit of this video on peak oil, but I'm beginning to see that we really have to start looking at taking measures like this, even if it means we have to switch to more nuclear power, and perhaps solar as well. Slartibartfas is also a big champion of improving insulation to cut how much we waste on heating our homes.

WEB

Aegis · 07-21-2007, 07:42 PM

Hybrids would help but the real cause of our energy problems is an oil based manufacturing sector.

rsather139 · 07-21-2007, 10:32 PM

Great, we need to get off oil because oil funds terrorism.

Scribbler1 · 07-21-2007, 10:55 PM

Whatever new technology powers our cars, we also must learn to live with FEWER of them on the roads.
On the east coast, where the old prediction of a Megalopolis from Washington to Boston is slowly becoming a reality, mass transit is the way to go.

dahermit · 07-22-2007, 10:22 AM

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Whatever new technology powers our cars, we also must learn to live with FEWER of them on the roads.
On the east coast, where the old prediction of a Megalopolis from Washington to Boston is slowly becoming a reality, mass transit is the way to go.

Mass transit is only workable in densely populated areas. Nevertheless, even if a person goes to work using mass transit, they often own a car to use to go to get groceries, to appointments, etc.

Scribbler1 · 07-22-2007, 11:09 AM

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Originally Posted by dahermit

Mass transit is only workable in densely populated areas. Nevertheless, even if a person goes to work using mass transit, they often own a car to use to go to get groceries, to appointments, etc.

First, that's why I mentioned the old prediction of an East coast "megalopolis", which is basically what happens when you have SO much development along the coast, eventually the whole corridor between Washington D.C. and Boston morphs into one huge city. Perfect for mass transit.

And while I understand the need for a vehicle at other times (I have a pickup truck myself), I don't think it's really THAT necessary. That's just a reflection for our American "bigger is better" mentality. The last time I visited London, I was observing what people did on the way home from work. It was interesting to not that, instead of us buying the 50 Lb bag of potatoes and the monster 20-roll packs of paper towels, they just stopped into the small shops for 2 potatoes, a piece of meat, a single tomato and other stuff. The point is, they seemed to be buying for the day rather than to last a month. Just get what you need to day and buy what you need tomorrow, tomorrow.

If you eventually have a city extending through 5-6 states, we who would live there could pattern our buying habits on those people.

presluc · 07-22-2007, 11:28 AM

Buying by the day seems like a good idea,I tend to buy by the week myself.
However to buy by the day in America it is my beleif that would mean another trip with the car, but I could be wrong.
I think carpooling would also help.
You're definatly right about one thing,Scrib, more people are buying bigger suv's and 350& 450 pickups,I myself have a 6 cylinder car. I always liked sedans.