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Archive:000/Electric vehicles/Fossil fuel powered: Difference between revisions
Archive:000/Electric vehicles/Fossil fuel powered (view source)
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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. | ||
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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? | ||
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