ELECTRIC CARS

"In [AtE Apr 91] you praised the electric car for its energy savings and pollution reduction. I have been against it as a replace-ment of the gasoline car since converting from one form of energy, e.g., oil/coal/gas/nuclear to thermal to chemical to mechanical appears to consume greater quantities of energy than the current cars. It also seems to me that we are just moving the pollution generation from the city to the country. Grand Canyon now has 100 pollution (reduced visibility) days a year. Why do you think the electric car is so good with respect to energy savings and pollution?

I am sorry, but your assumptions are erroneous. In energy, the efficiency of the power plant is 33%, that of an electric motor 92%, battery charging/discharging 72%, for a preliminary total of 25%. On the other hand, gasoline comes from a refinery with a 90% ef-ficiency (at best), and the internal combustion engine has a maxi-mum of 25%, which already gives a lower value of 22.5%. How-ever, even neglecting distribution (I have no figures, but assume that less energy is lost in power lines than in shipping gasoline in cistern trucks), the real difference comes with regenerative brak-ing, which puts the large kinetic energy of a moving car back into the battery instead of wasting it as heat in the brakes.

Pollution: Per energy produced, thermal power plants produce far less pollution (and nuclear plants virtually none at all) than cars because they are 1) stationary, 2) large-scale converters, 3) producers of fewer pollutants, 4) liable to much stricter EPA limits, 5) monitored in actual operation and throughout their life.

The Grand Canyon visibility is a Green hoax. For details write V. Kamber Grp., Attn. P. Crosland, 1920 L St. NW/#200, Wash., DC 20036 (unconfirmed; their number is now unlisted).

Trolley-like overhead wiring is not realistic for several reasons; but once the opposition to abundant nuclear power is defeated, underground lines with pickup-coil-equipped cars are a distinct possibility.

Yes, I affirm the superior energy efficiency and cleanliness of electric vehicles (EVs); but except for special purposes (morning milk delivery by EVs has been standard in Britain since the 1930s), I do not believe its time has come and may not even be in sight. Its present conception is a battery on wheels, with limited range and high price not only for initial purchase (much higher than a gasoline car), but for replacing the batteries at $1,200 every year (or sooner). In California and elsewhere, electric vehicles are being introduced by legislation, i.e., by government guns. Would you buy any of these models, even if they were available at the cost of a cheap gasoline car? (They are now in development, not yet available.)

[Source for table: EPRI J., May/June 1991].

Co. Model Range on Charge Payload Acceleration

full charge time (mph, seconds)

GM Impact 120 miles 2 hours 2 passengers 0 to 60 in 8 secs

Ford Escort 100 miles 6 hours 1000 lb, O to 60 in 14 secs

incl. 2 pass.

Chrysler TEVan> 100 miles 8 hours 5 passengers 0 to 50 in 14 secs