Electric vehicles/Fossil fuel powered: Difference between revisions
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If you charge an [[electric vehicles|electric car]] with electricity that was generated by [[fossil fuels]], is it as bad for the environment as driving a gas car? | If you charge an [[electric vehicles|electric car]] with electricity that was generated by [[fossil fuels]], is it '''as bad''' for the environment as driving a gas car? | ||
Short answer: '''Yes.''' | Short answer: '''Yes.''' | ||
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''For natural gas power plants'': | ''For natural gas power plants'': | ||
Some have the same efficiency as coal power plants (33%). Results would be about the same as above. | Some have the same efficiency as coal power plants (33%). Results would be about the same as above. {{x|Although in theory, coal and natural gas have different GHG emissions per unit energy (which we didn't factor in, and maybe we should for best precision) - in practice, they're about the same, due to [[natural gas#fugitive emissions]]. Both are close enough to gasoline, for the purpose of the calculations on this page.}} | ||
''Other'' natural gas power plants (the more advanced "combined-cycle" type) are more efficient: up to 60%: | ''Other'' natural gas power plants (the more advanced "combined-cycle" type) are more efficient: up to 60%: | ||
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In this case (electric car + advanced natural gas power), we do in fact cut our emissions in half. But this doesn't apply to older, simpler natural gas power plants. | In this case (electric car + advanced natural gas power), we do in fact cut our emissions in half. But this doesn't apply to older, simpler natural gas power plants. | ||
So far, we still haven't counted the environmental impact of ''making'' an electric car, which is significantly more than for a gasoline-powered car.{{qn}} | |||
* Note: This varies by the ''type'' of batteries used.<!-- TODO: bring in data from other pages?: energy to manufacture batteries; minerals involved --> | * Note: This varies by the ''type'' of batteries used.<!-- TODO: bring in data from other pages?: energy to manufacture batteries; minerals involved --> | ||
When that's factored in, there's probably no benefit to having an electric car in the coal-power scenario, and only ''moderate'' benefit in the advanced-natural-gas-power scenario. | When that's factored in, there's probably no benefit to having an electric car in the coal-power scenario, and only ''moderate'' benefit in the advanced-natural-gas-power scenario. | ||
<!-- | <!-- | ||
TALK: add scenario where vehicles are powered by hydrogen gas made from fossil fuels? | TALK: add scenario where fuel-cell vehicles are powered by hydrogen gas made from fossil fuels? | ||
or should that go elsewhere? | or should that go elsewhere? | ||
--> | --> |
Revision as of 01:23, 22 January 2023
If you charge an electric car with electricity that was generated by fossil fuels, is it as bad for the environment as driving a gas car?
Short answer: Yes.
Long answer:
For coal power plants:
ecocostsavings.com › average-electric-car-kwh-per-mile
from wikipedia; haven't found original source yet
www.eia.gov › tools › faqs › faq
Nov 4, 2021 · "The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that electricity transmission and distribution (T&D) losses equaled about 5% of ..."
https://www.energy.gov/fecm/transformative-power-systems
Citation:
"The average fuel economy for new 2020 model year cars, light trucks and SUVs in the United States was 25.4 miles per US gallon (9.3 L/100 km)."
- Fuel economy in automobiles - Wikipedia
(calculation loading)
In other words, there's a very slight increase in overall fuel efficiency, but it's not much.
For natural gas power plants:
Some have the same efficiency as coal power plants (33%). Results would be about the same as above.
Other natural gas power plants (the more advanced "combined-cycle" type) are more efficient: up to 60%:
Simpler/older natural gas plants (no combined cycle) have only an efficiency of 33%, same as [coal_power_plant.efficiency].
Read more: https://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Natural_gas_power_plant
(calculation loading)
In this case (electric car + advanced natural gas power), we do in fact cut our emissions in half. But this doesn't apply to older, simpler natural gas power plants.
So far, we still haven't counted the environmental impact of making an electric car, which is significantly more than for a gasoline-powered car.[QUANTIFICATION needed]
- Note: This varies by the type of batteries used.
When that's factored in, there's probably no benefit to having an electric car in the coal-power scenario, and only moderate benefit in the advanced-natural-gas-power scenario.