3 ms·

Wow, I just calculated my direct energy usage. Now I live in Texas where it is hot so I only required heating 2-3 months of the year, and have one electric and

• anonporridge 4y ago
  > A heat pump to replace my furnace and water heater; and only using the electric car would cut my direct energy usage in half. That's more due to the seemingly magical properties of heat pumps producing 2-3x as much heat as energy input. Burning nat gas to create heat in your home is nearly 100% efficient, which is why resistant electric heaters generally can't compete. Though resistant heaters might be more carbon neutral depending on your local grid. Of course, burning stuff to do mechanical work is quite inefficient, especially in a small scale engine like a car. If we must burn stuff, we should do it is massive thermal plants that have the money and expertise to squeeze out the maximum efficiency possible, and deliver electricity to do the small scale work, like driving.