27 ms·

Uh? Straight fuel -> mechanical energy conversion is less efficient than a series of fuel -> heat -> mechanical energy -> electrical energy -> transportation ->

• TeMPOraL 10y ago
  Yes, because ICEs are very inefficient compared to both electric motors and powerplant turbines. In the latter case, scale buys efficiency. And that's all before you factor in the transport costs of car fuel - gotta burn the fuel to move fuel to top up the gas stations, after all.
• bkanber 10y ago
  Yes, it is, by a decent margin at that. ICEs have a peak efficiency of only about 30%, and average 15-20%. And that's just in the engine. Powertrain losses for ICE vehicles are a handful of percentage points higher than for EVs as well. Well-to-wheel efficiency for EVs is better than ICEs in every country except India currently.
• leoedin 10y ago
  An internal combustion engine efficiency averages maybe 20% or so[1]. A combined cycle gas turbine power plant (running on natural gas) can reach 60% efficiency (it seems most operate a bit lower, but still in the high 50s)[2]. An electric car might be 60% efficient from the point grid power is delivered to the point it reaches the wheels.[1] That gives a natural gas -> power at wheels efficiency of 36%, or 1.8x the internal combustion engine. [1]: https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/evtech.shtml https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/evtech.shtml [2]: http://www.powerengineeringint.com/articles/print/volume-18/issue-3/features/ccgt-breaking-the-60-per-cent-efficiency-barrier.html http://www.powerengineeringint.com/articles/print/volume-18/...