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Electric rail is completely orthogonal to electric cars. Gasoline, used almost only in personal vehicles and light trucks, was responsible for 9 million barrels

by coryrc 18y ago

Electric rail is completely orthogonal to electric cars. Gasoline, used almost only in personal vehicles and light trucks, was responsible for 9 million barrels per day in 2004: http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/analysis_publications/oil_market_basics/dem_image_us_cons_prod.htm http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/analysis_public... Electric cars are suitable to replace at least two-thirds of those vehicles, yielding a savings of 6 million barrels/day. I say this because the commute for 68% of people is under 30 miles round trip: http://www.bts.gov/publications/omnistats/volume_03_issue_04/html/entire.html http://www.bts.gov/publications/omnistats/volume_03_issue_04... Even if trains were the only use for diesel fuel and you converted every single one to pure-electric, that is less than 3 million barrels per day (the transportation section of the "distillates" column). YOU can convert your car today. See http://www.evdl.org http://www.evdl.org and http://www.evalbum.com http://www.evalbum.com for help and examples. However, I would love to have high-speed electric trains for cross-country travel instead of flight. EDIT-I've heard it alleged rails are not electrified because the property tax increases, see http://www.lightrailnow.org/features/f_lrt_2006-05a.htm http://www.lightrailnow.org/features/f_lrt_2006-05a.htm

kingkongrevenge 18y ago
I'm questioning your premise that it's possible to substitute electricity for gasoline on the scale you're indicating. The generation isn't there. Much smaller, much slower cars used a lot less are far more plausible than huge numbers of electric cars.
- jksmith 18y ago
  Here's the catch tho'. Governments and corporations don't like decentralization, because this means a loss of control. So this will be a problem with what some will propose for electricity generation, which is a localized and decentralized effort. Centralization has usually meant better economy of scale. Electricity generation is the prime example, as well illustrated in Carr's book "The Big Switch." But new technology may trump this -- you may be able to generate all the electricity you need for normal day to day driving with your own equipment, be it via solar or wind. I watched a piece on alternative energy the other day. One of the solar detractors suggested that you'd need to cover half the houses in Cali to generate enough electricity for the whole state -- Ok, I'll cover my house, you cover yours. The first case of "viral" power generation in history.
- coryrc 18y ago
  The electricity used to refine a gallon of gasoline can propel an automobile between 10 and 30 miles. I'm sorry I can't come up with a link at this moment, but see this one to notice a strong dependency of refiners on electricity: http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/steo/pub/special/california/june01article/caoutside.html http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/steo/pub/special/california/june... In addition, electric cars are 10x more efficient from their "fuel", 3x more efficient if the source is dinosaur juice. 33kwh/gallon of gasoline, 30mpg is 3kwh/mile. Converted, that car would use 0.3kwh/mile of electricity.
  - coryrc 18y ago
    Err, I b0rked the numbers: 36.8kwh/gallon of gasoline yields 1.2kwh/mile @ 30mpg, four times the electric version. If the energy comes from combined-cycle coal plant (50% efficient), then your advantage is two times. The comparison with nuclear, hydro, etc is difficult to make. The best advantages are the ability to be energy-independent -- on a personal AND national level. An electric car will be zero-polluting for its entire life (no catalytic converter needed!) and, with fewer moving parts, can last longer.
binglo 18y ago
Converting cars to electric is ... not optimal. Cars are built very heavy these days due to "safety concerns". They're also heavy because they're loaded with features. It's very unlikely that you can find a nice light minimalist car that you can successfully convert, but if you know of any, I'd love to hear about them.
- coryrc 18y ago
  The Karmann Ghia and VW (classic) Beetles and Rabbits, that is, if you live in the NW or SW. Otherwise, you'll have to just deal with the heavier cars. They are not optimal, but more optimal than using gasoline.

by coryrc 18y ago

kingkongrevenge 18y ago

I'm questioning your premise that it's possible to substitute electricity for gasoline on the scale you're indicating. The generation isn't there. Much smaller, much slower cars used a lot less are far more plausible than huge numbers of electric cars.

jksmith 18y ago
Here's the catch tho'. Governments and corporations don't like decentralization, because this means a loss of control. So this will be a problem with what some will propose for electricity generation, which is a localized and decentralized effort. Centralization has usually meant better economy of scale. Electricity generation is the prime example, as well illustrated in Carr's book "The Big Switch." But new technology may trump this -- you may be able to generate all the electricity you need for normal day to day driving with your own equipment, be it via solar or wind. I watched a piece on alternative energy the other day. One of the solar detractors suggested that you'd need to cover half the houses in Cali to generate enough electricity for the whole state -- Ok, I'll cover my house, you cover yours. The first case of "viral" power generation in history.
coryrc 18y ago
The electricity used to refine a gallon of gasoline can propel an automobile between 10 and 30 miles. I'm sorry I can't come up with a link at this moment, but see this one to notice a strong dependency of refiners on electricity: http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/steo/pub/special/california/june01article/caoutside.html http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/steo/pub/special/california/june... In addition, electric cars are 10x more efficient from their "fuel", 3x more efficient if the source is dinosaur juice. 33kwh/gallon of gasoline, 30mpg is 3kwh/mile. Converted, that car would use 0.3kwh/mile of electricity.
- coryrc 18y ago
  Err, I b0rked the numbers: 36.8kwh/gallon of gasoline yields 1.2kwh/mile @ 30mpg, four times the electric version. If the energy comes from combined-cycle coal plant (50% efficient), then your advantage is two times. The comparison with nuclear, hydro, etc is difficult to make. The best advantages are the ability to be energy-independent -- on a personal AND national level. An electric car will be zero-polluting for its entire life (no catalytic converter needed!) and, with fewer moving parts, can last longer.

binglo 18y ago

Converting cars to electric is ... not optimal. Cars are built very heavy these days due to "safety concerns". They're also heavy because they're loaded with features. It's very unlikely that you can find a nice light minimalist car that you can successfully convert, but if you know of any, I'd love to hear about them.

coryrc 18y ago
The Karmann Ghia and VW (classic) Beetles and Rabbits, that is, if you live in the NW or SW. Otherwise, you'll have to just deal with the heavier cars. They are not optimal, but more optimal than using gasoline.