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Hybrid Vehicles Electric Vehicles Electric Vehicle Pros & Cons
1586 messages, Last post on Oct 23, 2009 at 4:19 PM
You are in the Electric Vehicles Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer
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Replying to: snakeweasel (Nov 04, 2007 7:11 pm) Here are a few sources. Below are a collection of studies that look at the entire process, well-to-wheels, of an electric vehicle: http://sherryboschert.com/Downloads/Emissions%5B9%5D.pdf As to EV batteries, Li-Ion batteries (current battery tech) are not considered an environmental hazard. Here's a source from the Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality: http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/pubs/docs/hw/Success/OnToTechnology.pdf A quote from the above: "The lithium-ion battery on-the-other-hand, is always in solution and therefore a lithium salt (not metal) which is non-reactive. " AltairNano even claims their batteries are biodegradable. ...Not baseless at all, electricity has to be created and its not going to be created cleanly. I cannot claim that coal is clean. However, because of the efficiencies of electricity generation, transmission, and use by the EV, that much less pollution - just a fraction - is generated overall. I quoted a study that showed this. Here's why this is so: gasoline has lots of energy density, but many inefficiencies are present in its transportation, refining, and use. Fuel burns much more efficiently in a large powerplant than it does in your car. Sending the energy by wire to your car (about 97% efficient) also beats trucking fuel all over the country. And the motor in an EV is over 90% efficient as well. Did you know lots of electricity is used to refine gasoline? Another interesting fact is that large powerplants operate at very low efficiencies overnight, when demand drops - wasting tons of fuel, because they can't be turned off. Charging EVs overnight can use that wasted fuel - without increasing pollution. If you still disagree, post some evidence of your own. I would love to continue this discussion. |
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Replying to: gagrice (Nov 04, 2007 7:27 pm) I have considered it. However, I decided that because of the age of this vehicle, a large investment of time and money would not be prudent. In my next electric vehicle, definitely. One of the things slowing the adoption of li-ions by the hobbyist community is that fact that these types of batteries require much tighter charging and discharging management to remain safe. That requires some serious engineering work, and not everybody is up to it. A few people are working on battery management systems that will become products for sale to hobbyists - when we all standardize on one of these, you'll see more hobbyists using li-ions.
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Replying to: apeweek (Nov 04, 2007 7:38 pm) enerdel batteries |
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Replying to: tpe (Nov 03, 2007 4:23 pm) It is laudable that some people are willing to pay a large premium for environmental reasons. But that won't drive a large market and thereby substantially affect the environment since most people are not wealthy enough to ignore the economics of such a substantial purchase as an automobile.
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Replying to: daysailer (Nov 06, 2007 4:17 am)
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Replying to: tpe (Nov 06, 2007 6:30 am) With the dollar falling off the scale and the economy faltering I think the environmental buyer will also think twice before spending the extra money, just to do his part.
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Replying to: tpe (Nov 06, 2007 6:30 am)
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Replying to: daysailer (Nov 06, 2007 7:10 am) |
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Replying to: gagrice (Nov 06, 2007 6:58 am) The dollar's fall is one of the big factors currently pushing up the price of oil. If this continues it will make alternatives to burning gas more attractive to the group that is purely driven by the "break even" mentality. |
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Replying to: daysailer (Nov 06, 2007 7:10 am) You are not being cynical and its not going to happen. People tend to spend in such a way as to maximize their utility for the least amount of money.
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