What are the hidden consequences of electric cars?

Question

Having hybrids would reduce air pollution. But wouldn't a whole new industry be required to produce them? Would production involve it's own harm to the environment? Would the benefits outweigh the cost? Would ethanol cars be better? And could the economy make the transition?

(I myself will take a neutral stance on the question.)

Answer 1

Hybrids won't change much of anything.  Mass transit, and the relegation of private cars and small trucks to the lesser role they held as late as the 1950's is about the only thing that will.  The railroads are already beginning to rebuild, and I suspect that electrified bus lines that take their power from overhead trolleys will be popping up fairly soon along heavily-used commuter routes.  That'll take the pressure off petroleum supplies, and we can go back to using cars for camping trips and to visit friends.  They're not very good commuter vehicles, all told.

Answer 2

Producing electric cars would involve no more industry than producing fossil fuel burners. Sure the engine plants would have to retool, but they do that regularly anyway, every time a new model is out. All up that is the easiest part. And yes they need to build battery plants but none of that is all that different.

The energy still has to come from somewhere, so it is important that the electricity is produced from non polluting sources. One advantage of course is that it is easier to capture carbon at a power station than on a million separate cars! (If that is what is planned). Or more usefully the energy is produced from renewables in the first place. Again easier to add some wind turbines, wave generators and geothermals to a power grid than stick them on your car!

As to ethanol, it is a great solution if the feedstock is not going to compete with food crops. It does not have to, it is possible even desirable to use otherwise unproductive land to grow fermentables to make ethanol. Also a lot of by products are very suitable for this.

The biggest advantage of ethanol as a fuel is that during its manufacture, nearly pure CO2 is produced which is then easily captured and sequestered (Well far cheaper than if it is only a few % as in a combustion process) Now that C is from CO2 captured by the plant during its growth, so by using ethanol as a fuel and capturing the CO2 produced during fermentation the process of fuel production and use becomes carbon negative! Ethanol is the only fuel that offers that prospect.

The other advantage to ethanol is that it immediately can be used in the fossil fuel economy. A 10% ethanol petrol mix burns cleaner than straight petrol and needs no modification to the engine to run.

Very minor modifications only are needed to run a 50/50 mix and the technology to run 100% ethanol is basically the same as current engines. The Brazilians have been doing it for decades! So in that sense it is a very painless transition. Governments can ease the way by simply not imposing fuel taxes on the ethanol, it will then be cheaper than petrol for the same energy output. People will make their own choices!

But the real solutions are not to simply modify the car to use new energy sources but rather to re think the whole concept of car to come up with more innovative transport solutions that offer more personal freedom, at lower cost to the individual and society and the environment. The personal transport system we have called the car is an old concept, we have been lazy and not looked for alternatives, we need to start looking. The whole idea of cars and the roads they require and the parking spaces and infrastructure that keeps them moving is a huge inefficient industry. We need to find innovative alternatives, they exist and offer a lot of benefits to those brave enough to develop them.

Answer 3

I'd personally like an all electric car myself, but they generally cost more than regular cars. So higher price would be one thing. Secondly, i've seen new systems come out where the Feds hit someone with an extra tax since their car didn't use gas...and thereby wasn't subject to gas taxes...so they hit them with their own tax for not using gas....sounds stupid and weird, i know.

Hybrids are economical on gas usage for a family, but doesn't do a whole lot for the enviroment. It causes about the same amount of polution due to its more intense manufacturing. its also added to the problem with food shortages and prices skyrocketing. Ethanol is an inefficient less powerful fuel.

If the enviromental whacko's want to mess up people's lives not to mention the car and oil industries, then they are going tohave to start offering incentives to ease the pain of the transition. Like a car trade in program...they have gas lawnmower trade in programs in some cities. I'll have to admit my new electric mower is no where near as powerful as the gas engine, but for my needs with my small lot, I can persevere. But for the average American, I don't advocate that they should get less for their money, forced into screwy policies or do without as good products for some hyped sense of "going green".

The harm to the enviorment has for the most part by the "green movement" has been harm to people, 3rd world countries and quality of life. Funny how the Socialists want to mess up people's lives today to help save a future generation. Stalinists should never get an ear or an audiance.

Answer 4

Not well hidden, the energy to power an electric car may be coming from grids that are powered by fossil fuels, or  by using power from your grid you force people on other grids to use more power made by burning fossil fuels.

There is another little glitch. Many hybrid vehicles use more fuel to go  a megametre than do the most economical non-hybrids,  even when the hybrid may be most fuel efficient in its class.

Yes, we do have an industry that churns them out. Some people would call that their saving grace. Only if the vehicle really cuts down substantially on use of fossil fuel when compared to all the alternatives does it make sense.

That means a hybrid may or may not outweigh harm with good. It will depend on the individual vehicle choice.

Ethanol will in general not be better

The economy can make any transition that  is saving people money when compared to costs currently being paid. But we have waited a long time to get started.

Answer 5

Hybrids don't have hidden consequences - they're just more efficient gas cars.

Plug-in hybrids and fully electric cars are a bit different, because they plug into the power grid.  Because of the efficiency of electric motors, this reduces greenhouse gas emissions even when most of the power is coming from burning coal.

http://greenhome.huddler.com/wiki/electr...

The one hidden consequence I can think of is that if a lot of people get electric cars, suddenly there's a big strain on the power grid.  You can offset much of this if you can get the vehicles to recharge overnight when the demand on the power grid is low.  In fact, this would make use of energy which is otherwise wasted, because power plants don't power down during low demand ours because it's too difficult to power them back up.

If electric cars were recharged during the day, it could present a problem.  More power plants would have to be built to meet the increased demand.  So an important issue is to try and encourage people to recharge overnight if they buy an electric vehicle.