To be fair, you are overlooking: 1.) Nuclear 2.) Wind 3.) Solar*
and with regard to transmission loss, don't forget that home solar power generators are already becoming practical, it wouldn't surprise me to see them in widespread use within 10 years. *see http://www.abengoasolar.com/sites/solar/es/nuestros_proyectos/plataforma_solucar/index.html for an example of what is currently possible with Solar power generation on a large scale. On Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 9:43 AM, Michael Drabick <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > *Kudos to Betty* for pointing out that this miracle electric car pollutes > just as the gas engine. > Power plants have an efficiency rating of less than 50%(except Hydro 95%, > Tidal90%)see link1. Then you have transmission losses, getting the power > many miles to the end consumer (7.2% losses)see link2. And keep in mind > that Hydro produces the same emissions as a power plant due to the rotting > vegetation at the bottom of the flooded area.See link 3&4 > > "Most steel engines have a thermodynamic limit of 37%. Even when aided with > turbochargers and stock efficiency aids, most engines retain an /average/ > efficiency of about 18%-20%." link5 > > *That means that a car using a Power plant, only increases the efficiency by > 20%-25%. > So it is not an emissions free vehicle as it is marketed.* > > Mike > > Sources: > 1 Power point Presentation By KEMA see slide 11 > http://www.umweltbundesamt.at/fileadmin/site/umweltthemen/industrie/IPPC_Konferenz/donnerstag_kraftwerke/6-_Van_Aart.ppt > > 2 Wiki entry - scroll down to losses > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_power_transmission > > 3 World Commission on Dams report > http://www.dams.org/news_events/press357.htm > > 4 "Hydroelectric power's dirty secret revealed" > http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn7046 > > 5Wiki entry - scroll down to energy efficiency > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_combustion_engine > > b_s-wilk wrote: >>> >>> On Mon, Oct 13, 2008 at 8:52 AM, Steve Rigby <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >>> >>>> > The auto industry will have to undo decades of pushing the concept >>>> > that >>>> > driving is an enjoyable experience and is part and parcel, perhaps >>>> > even most >>>> > of the reason for choosing one car over another for purchase. That'll >>>> > be a >>>> > damn hard sell, in my opinion, and perhaps almost impossible to >>>> > accomplish. >>>> > >>> >>> What auto industry? Are you even paying attention? >>> >>> -- >> >> There's a big American auto industry, in case you haven't noticed. Honda's >> in Ohio, Nissan's in Tennessee, Toyota's in California; Mitsubishi, Subaru, >> Hyundai, BMW, Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz are also have models made in the US; >> VW will have a plant in Alabama. Ford's overseas units are running at a >> profit, but they're hurting here because they still depend on gas/diesel >> hogs in the US market where gas has been relatively cheap. When they bring >> in the successful overseas cars that get >40mpg, some will sell well here, >> especially those with 4 and 5-star EuroNCAP crash test ratings [Aygo, Fiat >> 500]. Anyone for a Ford Ka? Fiat 500? Ford Fiesta? Toyota Aygo [Peugeot 107, >> Citroen C1]? Ligier Nova? GM Chevy Matiz? >> >> I have my doubts about pure electric cars. Batteries aren't ready. >> Electricity is not a good way to move vehicles, except maybe designs with >> the motorized wheels. Electric cars may not pollute like petro powered >> cars--they're worse, and will be until the electricity is powered by clean >> renewables, instead of dirty sources like petro, coal and nukes. >> >> As for self-driving cars, they're only as good as the people who program >> and use them. Computers did a terrible job of improving vehicle energy >> efficiency, so I don't expect computers to do a good job of something so >> complicated as driving. There's a sensible solution: public transportation, >> heavy rail like the DC Metro rail system. Just don't hire contract temps who >> text while driving. Oh, right, those trains are automated. Otherwise we'll >> wait for energy efficient cars with 'avoidance' technology, but not a >> computer making all the decisions. HAL? HELLO? >> >> >> ************************************************************************* >> ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** >> ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** >> ************************************************************************* >> >> > > -- > > *Mike Drabick > HDH Construction Consultants, Inc > 200 Harry S. Truman Parkway > Suite 220 > Annapolis, MD 21401 > 410-571-1100 > 410-571-1177 Fax* > > > > ************************************************************************* > ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** > ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** > ************************************************************************* > ************************************************************************* ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *************************************************************************
