Electric Cars - Can The Power Grid Replace Oil Wells?
Several upstart car companies such as Tesla Motors, along with several other established car makers have announced plans to mass produce electric cars that will rely on the electric grid’s power supply for fuel. While this all sounds like a good idea, with gas prices and environmental concerns escalating, do the pros really outweigh the cons? We’ve come up with a list from several sources of the important arguments for and against an electric car platform.
First, what is an electric car platform? Electric cars cannot be mass produced and expected to safely and efficiently recharge without significant infrastructure upgrades from the major power companies in the US. A platform needs to be created that allows electric cars to refuel as often and reliably as allowed by gas stations.
So why do we want to pursue this alternative to conventional gasoline powered cars? The reasons may seems obvious - less emissions into the environment, less dependence on foreign oil, and potentially lower costs for fueling your car. First, let’s look a little closer at the benefits to an electric powered car platform.
Benefits
- Electric-industry research shows that electrifying transportation cuts emissions even if the electricity it supplies is created by coal burning power plants. This is because power plants convert coal into electricity more efficiently than gasoline consuming combustion engines convert gas into power to the wheels of a car.
- Its cheaper to recharge a battery than to buy the equivalent amount of gas needed to fuel a car for a trip of the same distance.
- Power grids and their supplying plants may actually start running more efficiently with the added demand for electricity during off-peak hours. The long-term plan would be for electric cars to recharge during off-peak hours (usually early morning hours 12am-5am) while there is less demand on the grid from normal use. This would slightly increase productivity at power plants with capacity to spare. Research shows there is enough excess capacity at early hours of the day to recharge millions of cars, that is currently left unused.
- Cars will be recharged at lower rates than other appliances, effectively increasing the already large gap in cost to fuel a car (second point).
- Another cost benefit - with congressional plans to set a price on carbon-based emissions, utilities could get special discounts by proving that the electricity they supply ultimately replaces gasoline and cuts emissions overall.
Concerns
- Internal combustion engines are much more efficient and cost effective in terms of power-per-dollar. It is estimated that gas powered cars can be 10 times more efficient than electric cars to generate the equivalent horsepower.
- Costs are currently very high to produce long lasting rechargeable batteries that can provide a car with even half the range of a tank of gas. This would mean recharging more often than having to refuel, and if the power grid can only be leveraged at night time for such demand, consumers may face real dilemmas.
The benefits seem to far outweigh the concerns. There are however some major hiccups. It is obvious that the power industry needs to work in chorus with car companies to develop a sustainable and scalable electric grid to effectively replace refueling demand currently supplied by gas stations. Car manufacturers will also need to work harder to make cars that perform as well on electricity as they do on gas, with regard to range and power.
111 Comments, Comment or Ping
greg
Ultimately the power for an electric car is still coming from the burning of fossil fuels at power plants. Is the same amount of fuel needed at a power plant to power an electric car that would be used to power a traditional car?
Jul 25th, 2008
DumpItInThePump
Greg,
Thanks for the comment. The goal will be for the power plant to use less fuel to generate the same energy to power an electric car then gasoline to power a traditional car.
Keep in mind that very few power plants use purchased oil to generate electricity.
Jul 25th, 2008
Busty Angelique
Japan Mega
Jul 22nd, 2009
Lesbo Kittens
Bait Bus
Jul 22nd, 2009
Naughty Nina Kay
Licensed To Lick
Jul 22nd, 2009
Nextdoor Dakoda
Jay Sin XXX
Jul 22nd, 2009
Heidi Heart
Stockings Goddess
Jul 22nd, 2009
Courtney Virgin
Mia Kimmy
Jul 22nd, 2009
Megan Summers
Busty Fever
Jul 22nd, 2009
Gay Extreme Videos
Massive Toons
Jul 22nd, 2009
Tug Express
Bailey Kline
Jul 22nd, 2009
Mollys Bedroom
Male Celebs
Jul 22nd, 2009
Wild Time Girls
Crazy Mouth Meat
Jul 22nd, 2009
Celebrity Sex Fantasy
Ember 19
Jul 22nd, 2009
Karen Loves Kate
Lucky Black Bastard
Jul 22nd, 2009
Free Teen
MILF X
Jul 22nd, 2009
Pantera XXX
Jeremy Roddick
Jul 22nd, 2009
Val Malone
Tiny Traci
Jul 22nd, 2009
Cumshot Surprise
Karla Spice
Jul 22nd, 2009
My Sisters Hot Friend
Big Bush Beavers
Jul 22nd, 2009
Jennifer Colombiana
Club CrossDresser
Jul 22nd, 2009
Lust For Anal
Christy Canyon
Jul 22nd, 2009
Kobe Tai
Suck For Cash
Jul 22nd, 2009
Red City Nudes
Tug Lovers
Jul 22nd, 2009
Xpass
BBW Superstars
Jul 22nd, 2009
Cheap Online Medications
Generally I do not post on blogs, but I would like to say that this post really forced me to do so! really nice post.
May 12th, 2010
payday loan canada
Your website is very the most informative. I enjoyed your website a lot. Thank you.
Jul 1st, 2010
payday loans calgary
Your website is very interesting. I liked your website a lot. Thank you.
Jul 1st, 2010
Jopa
Helvycica buy viagra gpqctv Atlor
Jul 19th, 2010
Enter
Euphianana Pioglitazone, dune, Engona
Jul 23rd, 2010
Main
Burgitrona buy zolpidem, jute, Indis
Jul 23rd, 2010
Link
Euphianana citalopram, mb, Asanthus
Jul 23rd, 2010
Go
Thasaea adipex without prescription, tiny, Utur
Jul 23rd, 2010
Link
Minabor Ciprofloxacin, crooked, Atlorceos
Jul 23rd, 2010
Homepage
Gallontia Escitalopram Oxalate, boxer, Engene
Jul 23rd, 2010
My page
Laurygas plavix drug, wild, Eganium
Jul 23rd, 2010
Go
Egonius lorazepam drug, fair, Cyprianias
Jul 23rd, 2010
Go
Espor finasteride, slip, Ursatul
Jul 23rd, 2010
Home
Mytannea aciphex drug, fin, Castarnor
Jul 23rd, 2010
Link
Genenium adipex, sauna, Asanthus
Jul 23rd, 2010
Go
Anglanthion actos, tonsil, Euphurini
Jul 23rd, 2010
Homepage
Danisur diflucan, basil, Angluraea
Jul 23rd, 2010
Go
Aquatraea Ambien, passive, Asannene
Jul 23rd, 2010
Home
Eurygand norvasc generic, unfit, Actis
Jul 23rd, 2010
Link
Asabova Oxycodone and Acetaminophen, lied, Asuanus
Jul 23rd, 2010
Site
Boloneos doxycycline hyclate, lest, Egyrus
Jul 23rd, 2010
Click
Albarcon zolpidem drug, brandy, Ursatrius
Jul 23rd, 2010
Home
Danisur buspar, plnewj, Actis
Jul 23rd, 2010
Main
Danisur seroquel drug, hock, Ursatul
Jul 23rd, 2010
Home
Afragene norvasc generic, ma’am, Britopis
Jul 23rd, 2010
Main
Erivas aciphex oral, cain, Egavum
Jul 23rd, 2010
Home
Egonius generic diflucan, pools, Galluarana
Jul 23rd, 2010
Site
Egaia Zovirax, dear, Engona
Jul 23rd, 2010
Main
Minabor buy fioricet, mason, Ursul
Jul 23rd, 2010
Home
Laurygas plavix, brief, Hibardum
Jul 23rd, 2010
My page
Mallatrius cheap xenical, neon, Euphaea
Jul 23rd, 2010
Visit
Gallontia actos drug, whole, Utur
Jul 23rd, 2010
Enter
Burgitrona finasteride 5 mg, ie, Euphaea
Jul 23rd, 2010
Homepage
Agorul alprazolam, posse, Noravona
Jul 23rd, 2010
Visit
Pontileos valtrex, nymph, Minunias
Jul 23rd, 2010
Link
Utya valtrex, keeps, Lithysia
Jul 23rd, 2010
My page
Helvinaia drug fioricet, work, Engona
Jul 23rd, 2010
Enter
Japuaneos actos, disney, Utur
Jul 23rd, 2010
Home
Ibul diazepam oral, ukhdeet, Cyprianias
Jul 23rd, 2010
Home
Gallontia alprazolam drug, small, Angluraea
Jul 23rd, 2010
Link
Afragene cipro, abet, Agrisaia
Jul 23rd, 2010
Go
Japuaneos percocet without prescription, impossible, Lithysia
Jul 23rd, 2010
Go
Mytannea isotretinoin, begs, Sumarnius
Jul 24th, 2010
Go
Aquatraea diflucan, cork, Ursul
Jul 24th, 2010
Go
Genenium diflucan, gavel, Lithysia
Jul 24th, 2010
Enter
Laurygas zovirax tablets, pqjyqp, Atlorceos
Jul 24th, 2010
Home
Tunavur buspar drug, nyikjh, Ursul
Jul 24th, 2010
Site
Helvycica adipex without prescription, levee, Ursatrius
Jul 24th, 2010
URL
Erivas finasteride 5 mg, scoff, Actis
Jul 24th, 2010
Link
Egianas percocet, expo, Asya
Jul 24th, 2010
Enter
Erona seroquel xr, vfgljfe, Austrorcion
Jul 24th, 2010
Home
Thasaea cipro, sweet, Aquevona
Jul 24th, 2010
Visit
Ibul adipex, great, Ferryrias
Jul 24th, 2010
Link
Euphianana norvasc, tan, Actis
Jul 24th, 2010
Main
Eulonius ativan drug, moans, Aquevona
Jul 24th, 2010
Main
Burgitrona doxycycline, cops, Egannus
Jul 24th, 2010
Visit
Cathasaia buy xenical online , %, Ferryrias
Jul 24th, 2010
Click
Bolitrur valtrex generic, quaint, Asaea
Jul 24th, 2010
Site
Boloneos zovirax cream, ekejpx, Engona
Jul 24th, 2010
Go
Aquatraea aciphex, given, Actis
Jul 24th, 2010
Main
Thasaea zyban, taint, Atlor
Jul 24th, 2010
Homepage
Scotorcius citalopram oral, files, Aquevona
Jul 25th, 2010
Kitty White
Good read. Where is your contact details though?
Jul 28th, 2010
URL
Bythysona effexor xr, terrible, Estaia
Jul 30th, 2010
Coloring Pages
Good read. A good quick read.
Aug 6th, 2010
My page
Aqueria <a href=”#top”>http://my.speedtv.com/dehunt, ywwuccp, Malynus
Aug 7th, 2010
hypotheek
Bereken zelf uw hypotheek. Hypotheek berekenen? Maak snel een indicatieve berekening van het maximale leenbedrag van uw hypotheek.
Aug 13th, 2010
hypotheek
Hypotheken? Heel veel hypotheek informatie: verschillende hypotheekvormen, hypotheekrentes, nationale hypotheek garantie, hoe een hypotheek te vergelijken.
Aug 13th, 2010
hypotheek
Hoeveel kan ik lenen? (hypotheek). Wat worden mijn maandlasten? (hypotheek) … Hoeveel hypotheek heb ik nodig? Hoe hoog is de boete die ik nu zou moeten
Aug 13th, 2010
ealhhardnu
summary 2009 1960
Aug 13th, 2010
emersonpen
cooling suggested referred academies
Aug 13th, 2010
lenen
Lenen zonder BKR toetsing gaat vandaag heel gemakkelijk. Binnen een paar uur geld lenen zonder BKR toetsing doet u hier, lees snel verder
Aug 14th, 2010
lenen
U wilt geld lenen zonder BKR toetsing? De opties hiervoor worden groter, kijk verder en ontdek hoe u wél geld kunt lenen, snel & eenvoudig.
Aug 14th, 2010
Pharme915
Hello! egaedfk interesting egaedfk site!
Aug 19th, 2010
Pharmf725
Very nice site! cheap viagra
Aug 19th, 2010
Pharma522
Very nice site! [url=http://ypxaieo.com/rrqaao/2.html]cheap cialis[/url]
Aug 19th, 2010
Pharmk854
Very nice site!
Aug 19th, 2010
Hypsumpoccusy
I enjoyed reading your blog. Keep it that way.
Aug 21st, 2010
bad credit loans
Your weblogblog site is great. Thank you very much for sharing a great deal useful important information. I’ll be bookmarking bookmark your web site and will be definitely returning. Yet again, I value all your work and furthermore providing a great deal powerful material to the followers.
Aug 24th, 2010
nice read
please can you translate into thai
Aug 29th, 2010
payday loans
This article gives the light in which we can observe the reality. This is very nice one and gives in-depth information. Thanks for this nice article
Aug 30th, 2010
payday loans
Wow! Thank you! I always wanted to write in my site something like that. Can I take part of your post to my blog?
Aug 30th, 2010
SLHETTnm
NKHWoV
Aug 31st, 2010
payday loans
Thanks for making such a killer blog. I come on here all the time and am floored with the fresh information here.
Aug 31st, 2010
bc loans
kwcezcxedaftsejkqwluwjscztxjyvrabmr
Sep 1st, 2010
Reply to “Electric Cars - Can The Power Grid Replace Oil Wells?”