Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Nickbat on 14 June 2011, 20:34:43

Title: Electric cars may not be so green after all...
Post by: Nickbat on 14 June 2011, 20:34:43
..so says a British study.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/health-science/electric-cars-may-not-be-so-green-after-all-says-british-study/story-e6frg8y6-1226073103576

Why am I not surprised?  ;) ::) ::)
Title: Re: Electric cars may not be so green after all...
Post by: bigboykarl on 14 June 2011, 21:03:19
didn't clarkson once say because the alloy in a prius battery is mined in canada then shipped to japan then the car shipped to uk..it's more envoiromently friendly to drive a land rover discovery
Title: Re: Electric cars may not be so green after all...
Post by: TheBoy on 14 June 2011, 21:20:40
With power stations coming out at around 35-40% efficent, and battery technology coming out around 65% efficient, that makes electric cars around 25-30% efficient.

Can't find accurate figures for combustion engine efficiency, but have seen some suggesting 50% from modern diesels....


Thats before you take into account carrying the extra weight of batteries....
Title: Re: Electric cars may not be so green after all...
Post by: Olympia5776 on 14 June 2011, 21:21:46
I read an article in The Telegraphs " Honest John" supplement recently where the already limited range of electric vehicles became laughable by simply turning on the heater/climate control and/or  lights.
Title: Re: Electric cars may not be so green after all...
Post by: Debs. on 14 June 2011, 21:34:18
Flywheels....... :y

....what`s wrong with using high-speed rotational (and regenerative) energy stores. :-/

.....except the obvious one of 'corners' ;D
Title: Re: Electric cars may not be so green after all...
Post by: Kevin Wood on 14 June 2011, 22:30:44
Quote
Flywheels....... :y

....what`s wrong with using high-speed rotational (and regenerative) energy stores. :-/

.....except the obvious one of 'corners' ;D

Accidents could be fun too. :D

Hey, I wonder if I could fit one to my glider? Might make flying it a little interesting. ;D
Title: Re: Electric cars may not be so green after all...
Post by: Debs. on 14 June 2011, 22:34:52
Quote
Quote
Flywheels....... :y

....what`s wrong with using high-speed rotational (and regenerative) energy stores. :-/

.....except the obvious one of 'corners' ;D

Accidents could be fun too. :D

Hey, I wonder if I could fit one to my glider? Might make flying it a little interesting. ;D

 ::) Especially if the flywheel began to precess! :o
Title: Re: Electric cars may not be so green after all...
Post by: Banjax on 15 June 2011, 07:50:48
thats quite old news isnt it? i remember reading a few years back that a 10 yr old hummer was actually a better buy for the environment than a brand new Prius because of the green cost in making the Toyota, whereas the hummer, inefficient as it is, had already been built :o
Title: Re: Electric cars may not be so green after all...
Post by: Ken T on 15 June 2011, 15:53:23
The only way you are going to make electric cars work economically is by drastically improving energy conversion and storage figures, maybe this is a use for wind or solar power where the irregularity wouldn't affect charging a battery as much as supplying the national grid.

Oops I forgot all the energy required to make the solar cells/ windmills etc, looks like its a loser.

Prob the most "green" method of transport is horse and cart, good for the rhubarb.  :y

Ken