Electric cars not green ...

ScotJimland · 05-01-2010, 17:42

I've never understood why electric cars are considered green and enjoy such publicity .. nor why they pay no VED.. they are charged mainly by fossil fuelled power stations.

Until we replace these power stations with nuclear or other renewable sources how can there be a Green benefit.. ?

Googling, I found this study from Germany which raises some interesting points ... if this is correct then they should be taxed as 4x4 s

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10231102-54.html

Quote:

An electric car with a lithium ion battery powered by electricity from an old coal power plant could emit more than 200g of carbon dioxide per km, compared with current average gasoline car of 160g of carbon dioxide per km in Europe, according to the study. The European Union goal for 2020 is 95g of carbon dioxide per km.

Autoquest · 05-01-2010, 18:30

Correct, they merely offset the highly toxic disadvantages to production and disposal thereby bypassing the owner who can shout loudly about his green credentials and avoid his massive tax liabilities

My 4*4 is 12 years old now and will be with me for the next 15 years for sure - I would bet my bottom dollar that the total 'whole of life' emisions from my Land Rover will be less than half of a Prius

Larrynwin · 05-01-2010, 18:45

Electric cars and wind powered turbines are signs of a government not knowing what to do and thinks that these two ECO FRIENDLY subjects will convince the electorate that they know what they are doing. They don't !
The only way to avoid fossil fuelled power is NUCLEAR ENERGY, but in the last 15 years replacement nuclear power stations have not been planned, because it would not appear to be ECO FRIENDLY . Now we are almost totally reliant upon gas and coal fired power and will have to pay the price to Russia etc or the lights will go out.
What a mess they have got us in

pappajohn · 05-01-2010, 18:46

it could be argued that the electricity (produced by coal/oil/gas fired power stations) needed to recharge a 'green' car would be produced anyway and if not used would be 'wasted' energy.

personally i think electric cars should remain in the realm of kiddies ride-on toys for quite a few years yet.

ScotJimland · 05-01-2010, 18:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by pappajohn

it could be argued that the electricity (produced by coal/oil/gas fired power stations) needed to recharge a 'green' car would be produced anyway and if not used would be 'wasted' energy.

personally i think electric cars should remain in the realm of kiddies ride-on toys for quite a few years yet.

No surplus in this country John.. we import vast amounts from France .. from NUCLEAR stations..

Another example of double standards and NIMBYISM by the anti nuclear brigade

pappajohn · 05-01-2010, 20:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScotJimland

No surplus in this country John.. we import vast amounts from France .. from NUCLEAR stations..

Another example of double standards and NIMBYISM by the anti nuclear brigade

there must be a 'reserve' pot somewhere Jim.....if i turn my 3kw cooker on i dont have to wait for the neighbour to turn their off first before anything happens or i turn on a light i dont need to turn another off first.
this must be 'dead' electric just waiting to be used.

Autoquest · 05-01-2010, 20:39

The reserve pot is the coal fired and nuclear power stations that are all burning and turning in parallel with the windmills - when the windmills stop, which they do regularly guess what steps up to the plate? Windmills are currently producing 0.4% of the total demand

Up to a few days ago gas was producing around 50% and coal around 30% of our total energy needs, today it's about 40/40 with nuclear picking up the rest. (we're running out of gas)

In order to pay for the windmills; energy bills are loaded up by five separate charges - they are

The EU Emissions Trading Scheme,
The Carbon Emissions Reduction Target,
The Renewables Obligation,
The Community Energy Saving Programme
and the soon to be introduced levy on investing in clean coal projects.

This is the true reason our bills are going stratospheric

The EU Emissions Trading Scheme and the other carbon trading schemes around the world are estimated to be shortly worth over $20 billion a year. Carbon trading was introduced by Kyoto and was due to fall in 2012 - the real reason for Copenhagen was not to save the planet but for the bankers to save carbon trading - which they did by extending the scheme, everything else, as we know, fell by the wayside

tofo · 05-01-2010, 20:43

can anyone tell me
how often you have to change the batteries in these holier than though hybrid cars
and where are they dumped