On Fri, 03 Jan 2003 14:29:52 -0600, you wrote: >> Acutally, if your calculations are correct, electricity doesn't look half >> bad. :) Even better if TOU net metering with some solar was taken in to >> account. We also have to take the energy conversion of the vehicle system >> which EV's come out way ahead of ICE vehicles, no matter what fuel is >> used. >> >> James Slayden > > > Terrific! The figures used for the petrol to electric grid > comparison are based on a 'well to pump' or 'mine to electrical outlet' > cost factor. It would be helpful to see further results when using > 'energy conversion' efficiencies factored in from the 'pump to wheel' > or 'electrical plug outlet to wheel' (energy per unit/cost) calculations. > Look forward to further explanations and maybe address the weight factor > concerning gasoline and the lead acid battery power ratio. It would go > a long ways in clarifying doubts expressed about EVs. Thank you.
I think these calculations, of well to pump and mine-or-solar-panel-or-geothermal-station-or-many-other-things-to-electrical-outlet are only worthwhile doing if one respects the difficulties and complexities that are inherent in the questions involved. I have been thinking for a long time that there must be some basic academically-known principle that an Economics professor could discuss, if we had one present, as to the issue of switching to a new sourcing of energy whose derivation and efficiencies are *not* set in stone. As a matter of principle, once that investment is made in the new technology to derive motion from a new fuel source, then there are all manner of directions one could take as to energy efficiencies. But until the step is taken, we meet with all manner of conversation-ending (*deliberately* conversation-ending in most cases) objections to the switch based on flippant or casual or even insidiously deliberately falacious claims as to the inefficiencies of the proposed new technology. I spoke with a person who served on a group that did some research into Oil-well-to-wheel comparisons as against mine-to-wheel EV methods of gaining motion. One comment he made was that since some auto-industry folks were present who were anti-EV, they manipulated the group's chosen method for assigning a number to EV energy efficiency in part by choosing an out-dated irrelevant and (I guess) not-as-efficient battery technology (Sodium Sulfur?). So, this is just a minor example of the sort of pettiness that goes on from anti-EV folks when they are trying to "prove" that EVs really aren't a great deal energy-wise. Even with this inclusion of an outdated battery technology, the EV came out ahead in the group's calculations. Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://archive.nnytech.net/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
