Environmentalist.are electric/hybrid cars the real deal?
November 7, 2009 in Green Living
Did you know that you can save fuel and run your car on water
James R asked:
I never understood the mainstream fascination with these things. Most of our electricity comes from coal. Coal is worse then gas, even “clean coal.” Personally, I’d prefer a small compact like a Civic or moped.
Is this whole hybrid thing just greenwashing? Or is there a point here that I’m missing. Personally I won’t mind more nuclear energy but I know many other environments don’t like that idea so much.
Did you know that you can save fuel and run your car on water
The reason that electric and hybrid cars are supposedly environmentally friendly is because electricity you use to recharge your cars is partially from renewable energies. That’s better than using 100% fossil fuel to fuel your car, even if the electricity largely comes from fossil fuels.
You’re right, at this point electric cars probably aren’t much better than gas cars. A large majority of our electricity comes from dirty sources. What is important though is that as we move towards more sustainable fuels our vehicles will be prepared to take advantage of them.
As far as hybrids go, they don’t use any outside electricity. They gain their efficiency by regenerating electric power through braking. Assuming you’re braking occasionally the hybrid will indeed be better than a gas model. As such, they’re very suited to city driving.
Hi, you could use solar energy for you E-car. So you could skip the hybrid part of the car. [May be you have one for emergency cases - Suddenly fog or snowfall.etc.] – Using only the power of a full batterie brings you to bus or train station and stops you for driving unnecessary through all Ireland.rolf
There is more to a hybrid than the gas mileage, it also reduces emissions, dramatically if you drive in the city or stop and go traffic. Hybrids DON’T plug into the wall, at least not yet. The hybrid is not the final solution, it is just step on the way.
Here is the basics on a hybrid, it operates just like a regular car. I only put gas into it. I have a gas engine and an electric motor. When I’m sitting still both shut off, so no emissions. When I accelerate both kick on so I have plenty of power. If I am going a constant slow speed say under 35 miles an hour my gas engine often shuts off, when I coast both shut off. The battery charges when I’m coasting or braking. My car has been the least expensive car I’ve ever owned, at 6.5 years I have never had a problem, I get the oil changed every 7500 miles, I live in CA and don’t have to get a smog certificate and the tires are cheap too.
They are developing models that plug in, but they generally go to specific markets when that happens, mostly CA and a few other states that support clean energy. In CA we are at the front of the clean energy march. We have strict laws which are systematically decreasing the amount of coal energy that can be produced or used in CA. I already have a solar system on my house, so I know for sure I’ll be using clean energy when I get my electric or plug in hybrid.