Electric cars.......more environmentally harmful than gasoline cars?

Question

People seem to think that electricity is the answer because as the end user it is clean. But how many people really think of where it comes from? Most of the electricity in the U.S. comes from coal. That's not clean, I'd rather burn gas. Other than nuclear, coal is one of the most effecient ways to make electricity. Here's a link to a chart from 2006.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epa/figes1.html

Answer 1

I just love blowing by goofy little hybrids in my classic 1972 Firebird, there is nothing quite as enjoyable as having way too much horsepower! When that big Holley 850 really starts tossing the air and fuel mixture around I'm in heaven. Thank God for classic Detroit muscle!

Answer 2

Electric cars are useful because the electricity source can potentially come from clean sources. An gas-powered car can only be powered with gas. If you charge your electric car at home, and you spend the extra money to buy clean electricity at home, then you're doing better. It's true that most electricity in the US is generated by burning coal, but that's more likely to change over the next decade, and it's possible to buy clean electricity today.

Answer 3

well/coal mine to wheel electric is far cleaner than infernal combustion.

electric motors are just far more efficient for traction as they give max torque form 0 rpm. They can use unrefined fuel close to source in a power station that is at optimum load and temperature, constantly monitored and maintained, and delivered direct to the car at home or work; unlike petrol engines.

and they are just more enjoyable to drive - quiete, smooth, smell free; plus low maintenance, no oil changes, catalyctic exausts, coolants ... and the batteries are fully recyclable, unlike the composite materials in a complicated infernal combustion

Answer 4

So, what do you do when all those car batteries go dead? They all end up in the landfills, which isn't good. How about using natural gas (methane) for your car? That's what my 2 cars use, and it's much cleaner than gasoline for the environment and only costs 64 CENTS per gallon here in Utah to fill up. Ford made them, so they know how to do it already and it's not just a hope or dream; they already exist! That's my 2 cents on the subject...!   :)

Answer 5

coal fired power plants in the united states are clean. That's why you don't hear much about acid rain anymore. Go tour one, the scrubbers take up more than half the plant . Back in the 80's the EPA gave a 12 month mandate install scrubbers or shut down. This cost the average coal powered plant a little over a $100 million to install and are constantly monitored by the EPA at several surrounding points. Each scrubber first removes all fly-ash then neutralizes acidic gases and some of the newest modals have a stage for carbon sequestering. the problem is most manufacturing plants don't fall into the same guidelines. The white smoke coming from the tops of the stacks is water vapor condensing not actually smoke.

Answer 6

Depends, with electricity you just transfer pollution from one location to another