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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 smalle

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.

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.