Some people get a little concerned about more electrics and electric-hybrid cars. That’s because 50% of electric power in the U.S. comes from coal-burning power plants. And, just about every state wants to build more power plants to meet peak demand.
The big automakers are working on coming up with plug in hybrids. By the end of 2010, G-M and Toyota plan to have cars you can plug in to charge up batteries, backed up with small gas powered engines. Lester Graham reports there are concerns about whether pollution from power plants will be any better than pollution from tailpipes:
A related article from USA TODAY
A related blog post from TreeHugger
Producer: Lester Graham
Release Date: August 25, 2008
Running Time: 3:11
denislang
August 30, 2008 | 1:43 pm1
Hybrid, hybrid-plug-in, and fuel-cell vehicles are not a low-cost moderation option. They have more moveable parts vs the current ICE vehicles. The future belongs to fully electric cars, solar cars, and solar charging stations for cars, homes and industry: You will be able to charge your urban electric (solar) car on City Solar Parking Meters.
denislang
August 30, 2008 | 1:39 pm2
Canada’s Energy Market
There is a renewed policy interest in using renewable energy as a way to decrease emissions of Green House Gases (GHGs) and other pollutants. Canada is a world leader in the production of renewable energy. In fact, hydro-electricity is the dominant source of electricity in Canada, representing nearly two-thirds of total generation. Canada has abundant water resources and a geography that provides many opportunities to produce low-cost energy. The largest producers are provincially owned electric utilities. They include Hydro-Quebec, BC Hydro, Ontario Power Generation Inc., Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro, and Manitoba Hydro. Hydro-Electricity production is projected to increase by about 14 percent until 2020. The need for reducing GHG emissions in Canada may lead to additional growth potential for hydro-electricity.
Quebec’s electricity production comes for the greatest part (97%) from hydroelectricity. Using FEV in Quebec will make it possible to reduce CO2 emissions by more than 3.8 tons per year per vehicle.
Well-To-Wheels Emissions Data for Plug-In Hybrids (PHEV) and Fully Electric Vehicles (FEV)
PHEVs reduce CO2 emissions by 67% compared with the ICE (Internal Combustion Engine). FEVs reduce CO2 emissions by 99% compared with the ICE. If all U.S. cars were FEVs, they’d reduce global warming emissions. Using electricity strictly from coal, FEV still would reduce CO2 by 59% compared with ICE, and 49% compared with PHEV. FEV almost surely reduce W2W greenhouse gas emissions compared with ICE or HEV (Hybrid gas-electric vehicle), because so much of the CO2 comes from burning gasoline. FEV get cleaner as the grid gets cleaner with the addition of more renewable power, but ICE creates more exhaust as they age. FEVs have the added advantage of moving emissions away from population centers (where ICE tailpipes pollute the most). It is simpler to regulate emissions from a smaller number of power plants than from 200 million tailpipes. Overall, FEVs create fewer emissions by using cleaner, cheaper, domestic electricity.