The quest for green cars has led to the idea of electric cars. Everyone is betting big on it as the direct carbon emissions from the electric car is zero. But, when it is seen from a whole system point of view it doesn’t seem to be greener solution than the fossil fuel based cars.
An all-electric car runs on batteries charged at one of the power outlets which source from conventional power generation plants. Major portion of the power generated in the world comes from coal based thermal power plants or other fossil fuel based generators, which are the biggest greenhouse gas producers. Also, a centralized power generation is an inefficient system with losses accounting to around 75% during generation and transmission (as shown in figure below). In a fossil fuel based car, energy is utilized where it is produced and more efficient than centralized power generation. Thus, indirectly an all-electric car is a greater green-house gas producer than a conventional car running on fossil fuel. Global warming is a global phenomenon rather than local. Though we will be able to shift the pollution to the outskirts or away from the urban areas, it is going to become worse globally and will hit back as climate change. We are able to minimize the effect at one part but we are aggravating it at another.
An all-electric car runs on batteries charged at one of the power outlets which source from conventional power generation plants. Major portion of the power generated in the world comes from coal based thermal power plants or other fossil fuel based generators, which are the biggest greenhouse gas producers. Also, a centralized power generation is an inefficient system with losses accounting to around 75% during generation and transmission (as shown in figure below). In a fossil fuel based car, energy is utilized where it is produced and more efficient than centralized power generation. Thus, indirectly an all-electric car is a greater green-house gas producer than a conventional car running on fossil fuel. Global warming is a global phenomenon rather than local. Though we will be able to shift the pollution to the outskirts or away from the urban areas, it is going to become worse globally and will hit back as climate change. We are able to minimize the effect at one part but we are aggravating it at another.
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Source: http://www.cfcl.com.au/Assets/Images/Energy-Distribution(72dpi).jpg
Also, batteries used in these cars are derived from lithium ion and have very short life. More batteries mean more generation of waste, and more usage of resources. What we are lacking when creating a new product is - looking through the whole system. There is need for estimation of its whole life cycle right from where all its resources come from and where it will end up at the end of its life.
Unless, most of the power is derived from renewable sources I don’t think an electric car is a sustainable solution.
More sources for your light reading:
http://www.dieselnet.com/news/2006/04cnw.php
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/02/business/global/02electric.html?_r=1
http://economistonline.blogspot.com/2009/04/chinas-electric-car-ambition.html
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/427272/1/.html
1 comment:
You are right about it that renewable energy is the key.
The good thing is that we are going in that direction in many parts of the world.
Also, battery tech is improving.
Is it sustainable? I am not sure. Can it be better than before? yes.
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