Comments on: My favorite green technology http://www.marcgunther.com/2009/12/23/my-favorite-green-technology/ This blog is about the impact of business on society. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:08:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bill Adelson http://www.marcgunther.com/2009/12/23/my-favorite-green-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-284059 Bill Adelson Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:50:21 +0000 http://www.marcgunther.com/?p=3368#comment-284059 Marc: As to #3, yes, it is intuitively clear that EVs produce less GHG, because some will be charged on renewables, nuclear or LNG. What also seems intuitively clear is that cars running on grid electricity are less efficient than ICE cars from a pure input/output calculation. 60% chance that an EV will be powered by coal, so I burn coal somewhere, which boils water, which pushes a turbine, which makes electrons, and I transport the electrons 100 or so miles, charge a battery, run my car. Can this be more efficient than an ICE, where the burning is taking place right in my car? I keep reading the figure that an EV is equal to 70 to 90 MPG in an ICE. Can you point me to a study which defends this? Thanks, Bill Marc:

As to #3, yes, it is intuitively clear that EVs produce less GHG, because some will be charged on renewables, nuclear or LNG. What also seems intuitively clear is that cars running on grid electricity are less efficient than ICE cars from a pure input/output calculation. 60% chance that an EV will be powered by coal, so I burn coal somewhere, which boils water, which pushes a turbine, which makes electrons, and I transport the electrons 100 or so miles, charge a battery, run my car. Can this be more efficient than an ICE, where the burning is taking place right in my car? I keep reading the figure that an EV is equal to 70 to 90 MPG in an ICE. Can you point me to a study which defends this?

Thanks, Bill

]]> By: Chuck http://www.marcgunther.com/2009/12/23/my-favorite-green-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-284046 Chuck Fri, 25 Dec 2009 17:53:20 +0000 http://www.marcgunther.com/?p=3368#comment-284046 Interesting, but I'm still planning on buying a VW Jetta Diesel for my next car. When all these issues are worked out in the first generation electric cars, then maybe I'll be interested. But for someone who can easily drive over 120 miles on a bad day, and has a cottage 375 miles away, I'll settle for a fun turbo-charged diesel. Chuck Interesting, but I’m still planning on buying a VW Jetta Diesel for my next car. When all these issues are worked out in the first generation electric cars, then maybe I’ll be interested. But for someone who can easily drive over 120 miles on a bad day, and has a cottage 375 miles away, I’ll settle for a fun turbo-charged diesel.

Chuck

]]> By: Stuart http://www.marcgunther.com/2009/12/23/my-favorite-green-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-284045 Stuart Fri, 25 Dec 2009 17:37:59 +0000 http://www.marcgunther.com/?p=3368#comment-284045 Marc, Happy holidays! I would like to see the answer to these questions, I am sure someone you know could answer them easily. 1) A 2010 Prius emits what amount of GHG to drive 10,000 miles in one year? 2) A similar size electric car recharged by electricity generated from a. a 20 year old coal plant b. a newly built coal plant (more efficient) c. a natural gas plant 3) When electric car GHG impacts are calculated, what assumptions are made about waist in the charging process (is energy waisted if you keep a fully charged car plugged in?) and electricity lost from the battery during idle time. Stuart Marc,

Happy holidays!

I would like to see the answer to these questions, I am sure someone you know could answer them easily.

1) A 2010 Prius emits what amount of GHG to drive 10,000 miles in one year?

2) A similar size electric car recharged by electricity generated from
a. a 20 year old coal plant
b. a newly built coal plant (more efficient)
c. a natural gas plant

3) When electric car GHG impacts are calculated, what assumptions are made about waist in the charging process (is energy waisted if you keep a fully charged car plugged in?) and electricity lost from the battery during idle time.

Stuart

]]> By: “THIS NEW GREEN HOUSE” | Energy Saving Tips Weekly http://www.marcgunther.com/2009/12/23/my-favorite-green-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-284038 “THIS NEW GREEN HOUSE” | Energy Saving Tips Weekly Thu, 24 Dec 2009 03:31:53 +0000 http://www.marcgunther.com/?p=3368#comment-284038 [...] My favorite green technology | Marc Gunther [...] [...] My favorite green technology | Marc Gunther [...]

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