Should we drive electric cars to save the environment? see additional details before you answer?

Question

They say if every one of the 110 million US households replaced just one regular light bulb with a compact flourescent, it would be like taking 1.3 to 6 million cars off the road (depending on where you get the info).

With that in mind, what if every US household replaced their gasoline powered car with an electric car, how many cars would that be like putting ON the road? :)

Answer 1

True. Plus they run on huge lead acid batteries, which would poison the environment on disposal, and they need recharging every day, which would consume more energy. I dont think electric cars are the way to go.

Answer 2

I wouldn't waste my money until I found out how everyone else that bought one is saying about them.  It's a little embarrassing to drive up and I'm not very big , but get out of a car that you bigger than it is.  I'm still afraid all that electricity and gas would get together and catch on fire and explode.

I seen Bush looking at one at the White House he was going to put gas where the Electric hose is suppose to go and they just happen to catch him. When unleaded gas came out I was in Galveston and this man drove up and he had a new car one used unleaded and he put that hose up to it and put the hose on threw the gas in the hole and finally I guess got enough in it to drive

Answer 3

It would save billions of gallons of oil. we make electricity with natural gas coal some fuel oil and nukes. we have the capability of making much more electricity than oil. We are getting more wind power ,solar , and geothermal. that is cheaper than oil.

Answer 4

NOT EVERY ONE CAN BUT THOSE WHO CAN SHOULD.

Answer 5

maybe 2-10 gasoline powered cars on the road on each continet

Answer 6

you should watch 'who killed the electric car'

it is a very good documentary on electric cars.

by the way, using the dirtiest coal fired plants to charge an electric car is still way more efficient and more economical than using a normal gas car, and it creates less exhaust.

Answer 7

electric cars are probably 50% better than infernal combustion if electric comes from fossil fuel.well to wheel (large generators constantly mainained & monitored running at optimum load & temperature on unrefined fuel close to source/depot cf the average car)

Plus electric cars have fewer components, especially high temp alloys etc, have much less maintenance,

no side trips to refuel or queing at petrol stations

plus much less noise pollution

much less stressfull driving experience. maximum torque from 0rpm

We should drive electric cars because they are a better, faster, smoother, more flexible, cheaper, more conveinent driving experience than the clunky fossil fuel dinosaurs the motor industry foist on us.

plus better fuel security, and yes less environmental impact too.

Answer 8

if you had a  electric car you could put solar panels or wind generators on your house to charge it.

if you were at work the solar panel or wind generators at home would feed to the power grid and you would be able to plug in at work and use the power your solar panel or wind generators at home put on the grid

when you were not using power for your car or house you would be able to sell power to the power company.

this would be like taking a lot of cars off the road.

Answer 9

Depending on where your electricity is coming from (i.e. coal plant, nuclear power, solar power, wind power, etc.) it really just moves your exhaust from the car to the power plant.

Unless you have a solar panel at home and can charge that way, I would wait until some newer technology comes out if your only goal is saving the environment.

I drive a hybrid and it definitely cuts down my gas usage but it isn't perfect yet.

Answer 10

electric cars are not the answer i suspect hydrogen ethanol or something unknown will be

Answer 11

not alot

Answer 12

Think of it this way:

Each electric (or any other alternative fuel source) car means less demand on gas. Less demand for gas means cheaper gas.

We don't have to convert 100% right away, just get started. As we develop new ways to convert energy to electricity the cars will become more common and less gas guzzlers are built.

I'll buy one!

Answer 13

you know what's funny about that?  How many more factories would we have to build, and how much more equipment would need to be bought just to make electronic cars?  While the cars are being made, how much more pollution would the factories be producing and what would that do to the environment?  Is it really a good thing?

We need better technology first that eliminates pollution all together in factories, then stop drilling for oil, and then we can make those cars.  But the oil companies have their fingers in the pockets of the politicians, and they are not about to let go.  Also it's not very cost effective right now.  It costs so much more to produce and maintain an electric car.  Better technology is needed first.

Answer 14

Of course not. Stop just looking at oil and think of energy overall. The main priority is to stop using cars altogether which means ending our addiction to travel. Driving electric cars just allows us to feel smug and justify our mileage. Now electric trains and buses, that's a better idea.

Answer 15

Yes, we should.  Unfortunately there aren't any affordable long-range electric cars currently available, but that will change starting around 2009.

http://www.zapworld.com/electric-vehicle...

http://www.zapworld.com/electric-vehicle...

http://www.milesev.com/

http://phoenixmotorcars.com/

Here is a study which illustrates the greenhouse gas reductions of EVs, even with the current US power grid mix which relies heavily on coal:

http://www.pluginamerica.com/images/Emis...