Electric Cars: Chev Bolt seems to be the first practical one.

[California]

Not sure if the Bolt does it but as the temps start getting up around 100 here I'm remember how awesome being able to run the A/C anytime, anywhere is.

Waiting in line at the store I can flick on the A/C and have a cool car to return to or just keep it running while I pop in somewhere. Sounds like a small thing but so handy when you have it.

Heck I would take the hit on range and run the a/c while I'm out of the car. With 235 miles (rated) there's some margin available for making the car comfortable.

 

[California]

The more important statistic is the entire picture: vehicle production, energy production, and vehicle operation. The following article gives more of a big picture. It is also not from a non-biased source, but it appears more rational to me than the anti-electric car articles. ...
Key quote:
Using coal powered electricity electric cars do nothing to cut emissions, using natural gas electricity they are like a top hybrid and using low carbon power they result in less than half the total emissions of the best combustion vehicle, manufacturing included.

To me, this article passes the sniff test better than pulling a single statistic to conclude that electric cars are worthless.

Their 'entire picture' still overlooks what to me seems an essential cost of our modern life: If we didn't need to police the Middle East and its petroleum to 'Secure Our Energy Future' we could just turn our backs on them and let them figure out their differences with one another. That would be a huge cost reduction for us overall. Dollars, and the lives of our armed services. Look at the difference in cost and attention we waste on Saudia Arabia, in contrast to Somalia, for example. The only reason for the difference in US spending is SA's oil reserves, certainly not our admiration for their cultures.

 

[vvanders]

Heck I would take the hit on range and run the a/c while I'm out of the car. With 235 miles (rated) there's some margin available for making the car comfortable.

Yup, the range hit for AC is pretty minimal. If I remember correctly full-tilt AC was ~1kW or so which is nothing(peak power output is 325kW and freeway cruise is ~50kW or so).

 

[vvanders]

Their 'entire picture' still overlooks what to me seems an essential cost of our modern life: If we didn't need to police the Middle East and its petroleum to 'Secure Our Energy Future' we could just turn our backs on them and let them figure out their differences with one another. That would be a huge cost reduction for us overall. Dollars, and the lives of our armed services. Look at the difference in cost and attention we waste on Saudia Arabia, in contrast to Somalia, for example. The only reason for the difference in US spending is SA's oil reserves, certainly not our admiration for their cultures.

It's common in these studies to omit the kW cost of refining and transporting fuel as well which is a pretty significant. If I remember correctly it's about 6kW per gallon refined and I'm sure those tankers don't get great mileage.

 

[houstonscott]

It's common in these studies to omit the kW cost of refining and transporting fuel as well which is a pretty significant. If I remember correctly it's about 6kW per gallon refined and I'm sure those tankers don't get great mileage.

A tanker ship or other cargo ship designs moves more further for less fuel than anything invented. It's the most efficient cargo mover there is... Second is trains. At the bottom is an electric car.

 

[vvanders]

A tanker ship or other cargo ship designs moves more further for less fuel than anything invented. It's the most efficient cargo mover there is... Second is trains. At the bottom is an electric car.

I've heard of these crazy boats that use advanced technology involving a giant patch of cloth and a vertical post of timber. According to legend they can harness to power of the wind to travel across the world using no fuel at all.

 

[houstonscott]

I've heard of these crazy boats that use advanced technology involving a giant patch of cloth and a vertical post of timber. According to legend they can harness to power of the wind to travel across the world using no fuel at all.

Yeah, they killed whales, until the oil companies put them out of business and saved the whales.

 

[FergieFriend]

Ups - this study is not for making friends for electric cars! There's only one consequence:

Also the producting industry must become greener. I think Elon Musk can't be happy about this stuy. The last 200 years there is blown too much CO2 up in the atmosphere by us, the humans and our industry. No doubt, we must reduce it. One fact: An electric car is as green as the current in its batteries. Second fact: Also the whole production counts on it.

After 8 or 10 years in an electric car the battery goes to recycling. Instead of the long production way of the brand new battery the second life doesn't need the same energy, because all the materials are there, they only shall be refreshed and they would get a new shape for a new battery set. The same ways are for glass and aluminium: Their second life is melt the "old" material, clean it and give it a new shape.

Image, we are at the BEGINNING of a new age. And we shall go on, and there are problems on the way, and we must solve them.

Greetings - Franz

 

[Egon]

materials are there, they only shall be refreshed and they would get a new shape for a new battery set. The same ways are for glass and aluminium: Their second life is melt the "old" material, clean it and give it a new shape.

Wonder, can that be done with my wore out old parts too?

 

[FergieFriend]

Wonder, can that be done with my wore out old parts too?

I hope so. Nature is our all idol, there's no rubbish, everything goes round and round. Better we don't trash anything and use it again!

Greetings - Franz