----- Original Message -----
From: Jed Rothwell
To: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, January 26, 2009 7:29 PM
Subject: Re: [Vo]:Obama puts Schwarzenegger in charge of energy policy
Mike Carrell wrote:
MC: So long as hydrocarbons are the ultimate fuel, whether in an automobile
or in a utility power plant, [weight x miles driven] will produce CO2 and
other oxides.
JR: Yes, but much less fuel per passenger mile, and less CO2, because
electric cars are much more efficient that gasoline-only cars, or hybrids.
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There are hidden assumptions in this assertion. I don't kow if they are
adequately analyzed. Well-designed electric drives are probably more
efficient than ICEs during acceleration, and can recover part of the kinetic
energy during braking. ICEs are not efficient under accleration. Typical
driving involves lots of acclerations.
It is assumed that a utility plant, running under continuous load and
intelligent management, can burn fuel more efficiently than an accelerating
auto engine. So far, so good. But there are losses in transmission to the
user household, and in charging the battery -- as well as discharging it.
Q1 Where are reasoned estimate of the total carbon footprint of Los Angeles
with all eletric cars during a typical commuting day, including the carbon
emission of the utilities during the night charging cycle?
Q2 Also: is it true that the electric utilities supplying Los Angeles could
support the charging load of all the cars for the next day's commute?
Mike Carrell
