Comments on: What’s the big deal with electric cars? Isn’t like 80% of our electricity from coal? http://www.mainspot.net/whats-the-big-deal-with-electric-cars-isnt-like-80-of-our-electricity-from-coal/ Automotive Resource and Car Care Sat, 16 Oct 2010 15:54:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: wealth hunter http://www.mainspot.net/whats-the-big-deal-with-electric-cars-isnt-like-80-of-our-electricity-from-coal/comment-page-1/#comment-1414 wealth hunter Wed, 15 Apr 2009 02:01:55 +0000 http://www.mainspot.net/?p=754#comment-1414 Hey you are on Internet is not just America. I am Canadian living in Vancouver BC and all the electricity in BC are hydro powered and have a lot of extras exporting to America California recently 5billion USD in BC's hyro industry. unlike oil electricity can come from a variety of ways so America can change the way they power electricity by investing in solar, wind, nuclear, hydro and ocean current. Hey you are on Internet is not just America.

I am Canadian living in Vancouver BC and all the electricity in BC are hydro powered and have a lot of extras exporting to America California recently 5billion USD in BC’s hyro industry.

unlike oil electricity can come from a variety of ways so America can change the way they power electricity by investing in solar, wind, nuclear, hydro and ocean current.

]]> By: Stacy http://www.mainspot.net/whats-the-big-deal-with-electric-cars-isnt-like-80-of-our-electricity-from-coal/comment-page-1/#comment-1413 Stacy Sat, 11 Apr 2009 14:07:02 +0000 http://www.mainspot.net/?p=754#comment-1413 No Mate, you've got that figure wrong. There are many others sources to generate electricity...eg: Wind, Sun etc., I guess u'd like to take a look at this site: No Mate, you’ve got that figure wrong. There are many others sources to generate electricity…eg: Wind, Sun etc.,

I guess u’d like to take a look at this site:

]]> By: Oldwhiteguy2earth http://www.mainspot.net/whats-the-big-deal-with-electric-cars-isnt-like-80-of-our-electricity-from-coal/comment-page-1/#comment-1412 Oldwhiteguy2earth Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:57:37 +0000 http://www.mainspot.net/?p=754#comment-1412 You are mixing two issues - One is the environment and one is the remaining reserves of petroleum. An electric car takes less energy to get from point A to point B. Therefore, it will extend our remaining supply of petroleum. See T. Boone Pickins' plan to replace all imported petroleum with wind farms, then replace gasoline cars with the natural gas that is being used to power all the electric generators in the west (where it is illegal to use coal). Also, it may be economically possible to power electric cars with solar panels in the near future. You are mixing two issues – One is the environment and one is the remaining reserves of petroleum. An electric car takes less energy to get from point A to point B. Therefore, it will extend our remaining supply of petroleum. See T. Boone Pickins’ plan to replace all imported petroleum with wind farms, then replace gasoline cars with the natural gas that is being used to power all the electric generators in the west (where it is illegal to use coal). Also, it may be economically possible to power electric cars with solar panels in the near future.

]]> By: Hypnotoad http://www.mainspot.net/whats-the-big-deal-with-electric-cars-isnt-like-80-of-our-electricity-from-coal/comment-page-1/#comment-1411 Hypnotoad Thu, 09 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0000 http://www.mainspot.net/?p=754#comment-1411 The thing about electric cars is that they are way more efficient than gasoline cars. That means that almost all the energy in the electricity is used compared to gasoline where the majority of energy is wasted. So it's much less polluting to use electric power from say natural gas than use gasoline from oil. The thing about electric cars is that they are way more efficient than gasoline cars.

That means that almost all the energy in the electricity is used compared to gasoline where the majority of energy is wasted.

So it’s much less polluting to use electric power from say natural gas than use gasoline from oil.

]]> By: Dana1981, Master of Science http://www.mainspot.net/whats-the-big-deal-with-electric-cars-isnt-like-80-of-our-electricity-from-coal/comment-page-1/#comment-1410 Dana1981, Master of Science Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:46:00 +0000 http://www.mainspot.net/?p=754#comment-1410 No, it's about 50%. However, because of the efficiencies of large power plants and electric motors, EVs produce lower emissions than gas cars even when most of their energy comes from coal. See the link below for details. No, it’s about 50%. However, because of the efficiencies of large power plants and electric motors, EVs produce lower emissions than gas cars even when most of their energy comes from coal. See the link below for details.

]]> By: Hannah's Grandpa http://www.mainspot.net/whats-the-big-deal-with-electric-cars-isnt-like-80-of-our-electricity-from-coal/comment-page-1/#comment-1409 Hannah's Grandpa Mon, 06 Apr 2009 20:42:35 +0000 http://www.mainspot.net/?p=754#comment-1409 Actually as of feb, 2008 it was 50.7%, not that it matters, What is important is that Cars powered by electricity generate a lot less pollution that Gas or diesel powered cars. Think about this, for the price of a midium sized car, you can buy a small electric car, and install enough solar panels to keep it charged, and be able to do all of your local commuting for free. and with improved technology, in a few years be able to drive a couple of hundred miles on a single charge. Actually as of feb, 2008 it was 50.7%, not that it matters, What is important is that Cars powered by electricity generate a lot less pollution that Gas or diesel powered cars.

Think about this, for the price of a midium sized car, you can buy a small electric car, and install enough solar panels to keep it charged, and be able to do all of your local commuting for free.

and with improved technology, in a few years be able to drive a couple of hundred miles on a single charge.

]]> By: linlyons http://www.mainspot.net/whats-the-big-deal-with-electric-cars-isnt-like-80-of-our-electricity-from-coal/comment-page-1/#comment-1408 linlyons Sun, 05 Apr 2009 22:58:45 +0000 http://www.mainspot.net/?p=754#comment-1408 you are correct --- although i think it's down a bit from 80% now. on the other hand, we don't pay Venezuela for the coal. now that's not sufficient justification. i think the country will more much faster, starting next year, toward other energy sources. at which time, electric cars will be better. one might also point out that electric cars tend to be lighter, and not require as much energy anyway. also, as electricity becomes more green, keep in mind it takes many years to replace the automobile legacy in this country. even if it's not right this year, it will be right long before the end of the life expectancy of cars manufactured this year. you are correct — although i think it’s down a bit from 80% now.
on the other hand, we don’t pay Venezuela for the coal.

now that’s not sufficient justification.
i think the country will more much faster, starting next year, toward other energy sources.
at which time, electric cars will be better.

one might also point out that electric cars tend to be lighter, and not require as much energy anyway.
also, as electricity becomes more green, keep in mind it takes many years to replace the automobile legacy in this country.
even if it’s not right this year, it will be right long before the end of the life expectancy of cars manufactured this year.

]]> By: Ibredd http://www.mainspot.net/whats-the-big-deal-with-electric-cars-isnt-like-80-of-our-electricity-from-coal/comment-page-1/#comment-1407 Ibredd Sat, 04 Apr 2009 03:56:40 +0000 http://www.mainspot.net/?p=754#comment-1407 There would be nothing wrong with charging your plug in car with your own solar or wind system, in fact that is the hope There would be nothing wrong with charging your plug in car with your own solar or wind system, in fact that is the hope

]]> By: bestonnet_00 http://www.mainspot.net/whats-the-big-deal-with-electric-cars-isnt-like-80-of-our-electricity-from-coal/comment-page-1/#comment-1406 bestonnet_00 Thu, 02 Apr 2009 09:51:45 +0000 http://www.mainspot.net/?p=754#comment-1406 Just copy France and make it 80% nuclear, then the electric cars won't hurt the environment. Although it should be noted that power plants are more efficient that car petrol engines and also have better pollution control devices fitted (well some of them anyway) so provided you don't lose too much energy in transmission, storage in the batteries and the motor of the car you can actually come out ahead even with a mostly coal power grid (electric cars do tend to be pretty efficient). Also not having to run the engine when stopped along with regenerative braking will reduce waste of energy when an electric car is in start-stop peak hour driving. Just copy France and make it 80% nuclear, then the electric cars won’t hurt the environment.

Although it should be noted that power plants are more efficient that car petrol engines and also have better pollution control devices fitted (well some of them anyway) so provided you don’t lose too much energy in transmission, storage in the batteries and the motor of the car you can actually come out ahead even with a mostly coal power grid (electric cars do tend to be pretty efficient).

Also not having to run the engine when stopped along with regenerative braking will reduce waste of energy when an electric car is in start-stop peak hour driving.

]]>