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EV's only as Clean as the Electricity that Drives them

Oilprice.com -- Electric cars are the cleanest form of transport. Obviously more environmentally friendly than any petrol or diesel cars out there…that’s a given fact…isn’t it?

Well not necessarily. According to a new report by the Union of Concerned Scientists titled ‘State of Charge: Electric Vehicles’ Global Warming Emissions and Fuel Cost Savings Across the United States’, the amount of greenhouse gases released by as a result of charging the battery packs, varies greatly from State to State.

California’s clean energy mix makes the Nissan Leaf an environmental hero, whereas the coal –based electricity in Denver significantly reduces this claim.

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Submitted Apr 17, 2012 By: NOTSOGRN

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clermont40miles Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:10,570 Points:1,772,690 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 10:27:45 PM Ignore clermont40miles Report Abuse Coal burners.
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,800 Points:413,640 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 10:25:56 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse Zeke, let's get one thing straight. WHY would the liberal left want to keep Americans from being successful? What's their motive? I'm sure you're an intelligent person. Don't fall for that kind of demonization. You're better than that. Now, as for climate change, sure the Earth has been warmer. It's also been colder. The question is whether humanity is responsible for THIS change in the global climate. I hate to break it everyone but we have met the enemy and they are us. We did this. Really. The old argument is that we're not powerful enough to affect the planet. One person cannot affect the planet but 7 billion people? You betcha! And not just 7 billion people living like peasants around campfires. I'm talking about 2 billion people living with technology and the other 5 billion quickly catching up. Add up all the factories, powerplants, home furnaces for heat and hot water, automobile exhaust, diesel locomotives, jet engines, oil tankers, and cargo container ships, and we've spewed enough CO2 into the atmosphere that it's like there were a dozen volcanoes constantly erupting for the past 200 years. The human race has done this and it's not done doing it.
PizzaMon Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:5,134 Points:1,862,405 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 10:25:29 PM Ignore PizzaMon Report Abuse Electric is cleaner but still with a price to the environment.
skyking19 Champion Author Little Rock Posts:2,001 Points:1,699,690 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 10:25:22 PM Ignore skyking19 Report Abuse That's true.
30mpg80 Champion Author Lexington Posts:10,035 Points:1,487,855 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 10:25:00 PM Ignore 30mpg80 Report Abuse 'Clean' or 'green' should include more than just carbon dioxide rating. Inner city drivers in EV's can make their air less toxic to breath, no matter what the source of electricity.
DrLyon Champion Author Michigan Posts:6,650 Points:1,211,830 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 10:24:19 PM Ignore DrLyon Report Abuse So make clean electric...
gas_too_high Champion Author Columbus Posts:11,544 Points:1,933,440 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 10:23:29 PM Ignore gas_too_high Report Abuse This is nothing new or surprising. But in defense of electrics, electricity from the grid even in areas where coal fired power plants are common, can come from anywhere and clearn as well as dirty sources. Also, a few large polluters can have their emissions more easily cleaned up than a lot of small mobile emitters (gasoline and diesel powered cars and trucks). Note: That does not include CO2, but CO2 is not a pollutant, but the natural product of carbon combustion, produced by any power source other than hydro, nuclear or the "green" alternatives. The biggest problem with electric vehicles is not that some of that electricity comes from coal, but that those vehicles are expensive. GTH
rayla36 Sophomore Author Columbus Posts:118 Points:39,410 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 10:22:15 PM Ignore rayla36 Report Abuse Of course California leads the way!
walkingtall Champion Author Toronto Posts:3,999 Points:1,121,680 Joined:Nov 2004	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 10:21:08 PM Ignore walkingtall Report Abuse We can always find the bad in some things.
mstearno Champion Author Dayton Posts:8,071 Points:1,732,210 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 10:18:01 PM Ignore mstearno Report Abuse coal burning
ericbcire Champion Author Nevada Posts:4,525 Points:1,267,710 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 10:17:26 PM Ignore ericbcire Report Abuse EV's are not practical for most consumers.
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,800 Points:413,640 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 10:13:03 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse You're in luck, Terzo. Quick charging battery technology is already available that will charge an almost dead battery to 80% in 30 minutes. You can top off the other 20% when you get home. Engineers are working on the range challenge and are making solid progress. I say a 200 mile range for an average EV will be available in three years. Tesla can sell you a car with that range right now but $100,000 MSRP is too steep for the 99%. Just give it time. The price will come down.
Sarge10 All-Star Author Detroit Posts:857 Points:173,875 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 10:10:49 PM Ignore Sarge10 Report Abuse I knew it was to good to be true!!!
Zeke33 Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:5,574 Points:1,615,980 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 10:10:37 PM Ignore Zeke33 Report Abuse I am tired of hearing about "Global Warming". These cyclical changes in temperature have been occuring for centuries. The liberal lefists are trying to curb U.S. economic growth.
Dsin44 Champion Author Abbotsford Posts:1,272 Points:272,660 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 10:10:24 PM Ignore Dsin44 Report Abuse go nuke.. go solar... go geothermal..!
PoohMcGoo Champion Author Alabama Posts:3,067 Points:800,585 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 10:07:57 PM Ignore PoohMcGoo Report Abuse True
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,800 Points:413,640 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 10:07:46 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse Boy, this author must get some enjoyment out of peeing in the cornflakes. He must have really wanted to skewer elctric vehicles but unfortunately for him, the facts got in the way. Sure, if you're getting your electricity from 100% coal the power plant will release more CO2 than if it were fueled with natural gas. That's not a huge revelation. But that's where the author tries really hard to muddy the waters. Somebody please show me someplace where 100% of their electricity is powered by coal. Electricity is generated from a wide mix of sources. Here in New York state, electricity is generated from coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear, hydropower, wind, solar, and biogas. What's important is that the consumer have a choice of where they get their electricity and from what source. Many Americans have a choice of electricity suppliers and since you're the customer you have a responsibility to know where your electricity comes from. If you have a cleaner choice, you should take it.
bvrbill Champion Author Eugene Posts:3,223 Points:518,850 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 10:07:27 PM Ignore bvrbill Report Abuse No such thing as a free lunch...
carman11 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:3,337 Points:691,725 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 10:07:08 PM Ignore carman11 Report Abuse IF WE LOOK HARD ENOUGH WE CAN ALWAYS FIND THE BAD IN SOMETING.
theschmuck Champion Author Michigan Posts:2,922 Points:1,512,600 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 10:06:22 PM Ignore theschmuck Report Abuse Anything to keep the public riled up, they are just like door knobs - eveybody get a turn.
Blue48 Champion Author Illinois Posts:7,305 Points:1,637,945 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 10:04:56 PM Ignore Blue48 Report Abuse WHAT A WAY TO MAKE GREEN CARS...LOOK SO DIRTY!
mrbee Champion Author Little Rock Posts:3,758 Points:2,466,585 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 10:04:01 PM Ignore mrbee Report Abuse Keep the EV
LaVonneK Champion Author Iowa Posts:2,945 Points:626,750 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 10:02:07 PM Ignore LaVonneK Report Abuse There's always something.
rx7racerca Champion Author Calgary Posts:4,201 Points:1,113,175 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 10:02:00 PM Ignore rx7racerca Report Abuse Terzo - operating costs per mile for electrics, like the Nissan Leaf, or hybrids like the Volt that can operate in full electric mode for extended periods run around half or less cost per mile of the VW Golf TDI, the current fossil fuel economy champ. Check out Car and Driver's tests of both cars - the Volt test had more discussion of operating costs... Car and Driver - Chevy Volt full test Given that, and given that electric plants, even if run on coal, have far greater thermal efficiency than small, mobile internal combustion engines (cars), I very much question this article's assertion that if using coal-sourced electricity, the carbon footprint approaches that of an efficient gas or diesel car.
vroomputtputt Veteran Author Oregon Posts:275 Points:62,785 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 9:59:45 PM Ignore vroomputtputt Report Abuse I agree with pickledude72
ratones1 Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:2,912 Points:731,980 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 9:56:13 PM Ignore ratones1 Report Abuse hhhhhhhhhhhhhum...
DeeLA Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:4,818 Points:1,365,330 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 9:55:10 PM Ignore DeeLA Report Abuse They are also affordable by less than half the driving population.
Terzo All-Star Author Orange County Posts:670 Points:119,490 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 9:54:15 PM Ignore Terzo Report Abuse If I ever buy an electric car it won't be because I'm worried about my carbon footprint. The factor that will matter is the overall cost to drive it. If I can charge up an EV car with electricity that costs less to generate than filling up at the gas station, then I'll consider converting. However, other factors will be just as important. Driving range wiil need to increase to say 200-300 miles and the charging time needs to be reduced to say around 15-30 minutes.
CapNC Veteran Author North Carolina Posts:392 Points:361,885 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 9:54:13 PM Ignore CapNC Report Abuse duh
FuelOilOH Champion Author Cleveland Posts:2,837 Points:1,180,220 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 9:46:55 PM Ignore FuelOilOH Report Abuse Aw shucks, our electricity is mostly from coal. Guess I'll just have to enjoy my gas fueled vehicle.
kcboy Champion Author Utah Posts:3,968 Points:1,507,800 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 9:46:09 PM Ignore kcboy Report Abuse This seems to be old news many yesterdays news.
amearly Champion Author Michigan Posts:12,119 Points:2,467,610 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 9:43:50 PM Ignore amearly Report Abuse Amazing how they always forget to metion this when there talking about there clean green cars.
bcok Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:2,126 Points:1,544,495 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 9:41:24 PM Ignore bcok Report Abuse It's sad that your area is very effective on the use of e-cars. As of now I still get 43mph w/gas from a 3-cylinder Geo(18 years of use).
USAv8tor Veteran Author Long Island Posts:348 Points:138,665 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 9:39:07 PM Ignore USAv8tor Report Abuse The byproducts and emissions produced when creating electricity offset the cleanliness and efficiency of electric vehicles. However, utilizing solar energy to create electricity to charge electric cars greatly reduces byproducts, emissions and the overall carbon footprint on the environment.
jdc17327 Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:2,560 Points:198,015 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 9:35:52 PM Ignore jdc17327 Report Abuse BS
ww2gas Champion Author Virginia Posts:8,228 Points:1,731,490 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 9:33:26 PM Ignore ww2gas Report Abuse Ah but on those code orange and red days the EV crowd will have nothing to feel guilty about when they "fuel" their vehicles.
SIDEKICKFL Sophomore Author Florida Posts:165 Points:48,470 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 9:32:41 PM Ignore SIDEKICKFL Report Abuse $3.97 at the pump here!!
Foxt Champion Author Minnesota Posts:5,260 Points:2,020,330 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 9:19:50 PM Ignore Foxt Report Abuse At this point who cares?
pickledude72 Champion Author California Posts:1,120 Points:836,345 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 9:19:15 PM Ignore pickledude72 Report Abuse blah blah blah, yada yada
carefrey Champion Author Orlando Posts:5,535 Points:1,159,485 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 9:19:14 PM Ignore carefrey Report Abuse We need more clean energy.
jjjleblanc Champion Author Rochester Posts:5,877 Points:1,519,305 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 9:18:44 PM Ignore jjjleblanc Report Abuse Maybe after we convert coal plants to natural gas.
bababooey2 Champion Author Hartford Posts:6,352 Points:1,302,840 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 9:18:01 PM Ignore bababooey2 Report Abuse Enough!
Taurus1 Champion Author Ohio Posts:3,130 Points:1,674,475 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 9:15:11 PM Ignore Taurus1 Report Abuse Is it cleaner than other sources to make electricity?
iceman11 Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,715 Points:536,425 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 9:14:07 PM Ignore iceman11 Report Abuse who new
Bubba44612 Champion Author Ohio Posts:7,396 Points:1,877,080 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 9:14:05 PM Ignore Bubba44612 Report Abuse I always thought riding a bicycle was even cleaner.
nimpy Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:8,140 Points:1,702,080 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 9:13:06 PM Ignore nimpy Report Abuse They are still too expensive
weenerdog Champion Author Detroit Posts:9,461 Points:1,884,890 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 9:11:52 PM Ignore weenerdog Report Abuse true
dave1745 Champion Author Gary Posts:1,262 Points:738,125 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 9:11:28 PM Ignore dave1745 Report Abuse absolutely. which is the lesser of two evils
TDIdave Champion Author California Posts:5,063 Points:1,225,715 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 9:09:38 PM Ignore TDIdave Report Abuse Duh.
swrestler Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:6,140 Points:1,572,050 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 9:09:36 PM Ignore swrestler Report Abuse Very True Not Clean...
Eugenian Champion Author Oregon Posts:1,862 Points:362,130 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 9:05:21 PM Ignore Eugenian Report Abuse This is why we need to just say no to Big Coal and invest in more infrastructure to harness energy from solar, wind and ocean tide sources.
hoffbeck20 Veteran Author Minnesota Posts:283 Points:63,095 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 9:05:18 PM Ignore hoffbeck20 Report Abuse Yes. they really arent that clean..