Forum Discussion
way2roll wrote:
I can't get on the electric vehicle bandwagon. In the little research I've done they aren't really as eco friendly as they would have you think. To manufacture - especially the batteries - the waste and materials used to make them are pretty caustic and not eco friendly at all. And electricity still has to be produced to charge the car. You've only shifted where the pollution and emissions comes from.
Careful now - you're letting the facts get in the way of a good story!
Years ago I owned a Ford Focus ST that was a PZEV (partial zero emission vehicle). Going from memory here, so it might be a little skewed but the point is valid; Car & Driver did a test on it at the time and on the bad greenhouse gasses, it produced fewer bad gases per mile than a fully electric vehicle charged off the California grid.
While electric may be zero emissions, the plants that produce it aren't.way2roll wrote:
The argument against EV cars isn't about whether it's crazy or that it won't catch on, it's about the claim that they are better for the environment. Despite claiming to be Eco friendly with less emissions and leveraging that for marketing, the fact is they aren't really as Eco friendly as they would have you believe.
One thing that few people think about: until somebody can build an electric motor that is 100% efficient there will be a "cost" for running an electric motor. That cost is the inefficiency of the motor, which manifests itself as heat! So, in the end electric motors actually cause global warming!pianotuna wrote:
I love the self driving aspect. How lovely to start out at night, sleep, and wake up at the destination the next morning.
Didn't they use to call that a train? ;)
AlBillyBob Jim wrote:
way2roll wrote:
I'm not hot on the continuation of dependency on fossil fuels either, but the approach to development and fueling EV cars needs work to get it where it needs to be to be totally ECO friendly.
Now THAT is the ticket! :BTechWriter wrote:
pianotuna wrote:
Loved the links techwriter.
It's deja vu all over again.
Not necessarily, the links are comparing oranges to basketballs.
The argument against EV cars isn't about whether it's crazy or that it won't catch on, it's about the claim that they are better for the environment. Despite claiming to be Eco friendly with less emissions and leveraging that for marketing, the fact is they aren't really as Eco friendly as they would have you believe. Sure, the cars themselves produce lower emissions, but the process to manufacture - especially dependent on where the materials are sourced, and the fact that they are completely dependent on the production of electricity somewhere else - a production that is often worse than internal combustion vehicle emissions (especially for coal driven power plants), means that the net carbon footprint is not much better than the efficient engines we have today. I am not saying EV cars are a bad thing but they aren't the holy grail of environmental salvation the marketing and hype tell us they are. I'm not hot on the continuation of dependency on fossil fuels either, but the approach to development and fueling EV cars needs work to get it where it needs to be to be totally ECO friendly.pianotuna wrote:
Loved the links techwriter.
It's deja vu all over again.- I love the self driving aspect. How lovely to start out at night, sleep, and wake up at the destination the next morning.
Loved the links techwriter. schlep1967 wrote:
I can picture the camp ground service charge for plugging in your electric RV. I've already seen a $10 charge to run your A/C. What would they want to charge up what would have to be a very large battery?
I have been to many Federal and State operated campgrounds where you're still dealing with the original infrastructure installed back in the 1970's or earlier. Everything from the site electrical systems, to the water system / restrooms and shower houses, even the roads, etc. I do not see them in any hurry to upgrade anything let alone start rebuilding entire electrical systems to support charging EV's. Everyone can dream on.- I can picture the camp ground service charge for plugging in your electric RV. I've already seen a $10 charge to run your A/C. What would they want to charge up what would have to be a very large battery?
