Assuming that Lithium Ion batteries are going to do the job, where's all the lithium going to come from? Is Lithium really that plentiful and easy to acquire?
RDB: In Washington, most of our power comes from hydro, and at night (when electric cars can and should be charged) it's not uncommon to have excess generation that gets wasted. If you look at the west coast grid average, driving electric is equivalent by CO2 emissions to driving a gas car that gets 144 mpg. If you look at the national grid, which is about 45% coal, it drops to 44 mpg, still over twice the national average.
All the numbers are here: http://saxton.idleloop.com/EV/efficiency.php
But CO2 emissions is only one of many benefits of driving electric. My favorite is that my fuel dollars go to local jobs producing local power instead of going mostly overseas to foreign oil producers.
Read nine more reasons to be excited about electric vehicles here: http://www.pluginamerica.org/drivers-seat/ten-reasons-be-excited-about-electric-vehicles
RDB - 13 years ago
What a dumb poll. I voted 'Other' because there wasn't a choice for being 'concerned' about where the power comes from which charges the batteries. Let me give you a hint, it isn't wind or solar. There is a reason why electric cars have never taken off.
Assuming that Lithium Ion batteries are going to do the job, where's all the lithium going to come from? Is Lithium really that plentiful and easy to acquire?
RDB: In Washington, most of our power comes from hydro, and at night (when electric cars can and should be charged) it's not uncommon to have excess generation that gets wasted. If you look at the west coast grid average, driving electric is equivalent by CO2 emissions to driving a gas car that gets 144 mpg. If you look at the national grid, which is about 45% coal, it drops to 44 mpg, still over twice the national average.
All the numbers are here: http://saxton.idleloop.com/EV/efficiency.php
But CO2 emissions is only one of many benefits of driving electric. My favorite is that my fuel dollars go to local jobs producing local power instead of going mostly overseas to foreign oil producers.
Read nine more reasons to be excited about electric vehicles here: http://www.pluginamerica.org/drivers-seat/ten-reasons-be-excited-about-electric-vehicles
What a dumb poll. I voted 'Other' because there wasn't a choice for being 'concerned' about where the power comes from which charges the batteries. Let me give you a hint, it isn't wind or solar. There is a reason why electric cars have never taken off.