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[Nickbat]

..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? 

[bigboykarl]

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

[TheBoy]

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....

[Olympia5776]

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.

[Debs.]

Flywheels.......

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

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

[Kevin Wood]

Flywheels.......

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

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

Accidents could be fun too.

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

[Debs.]

Flywheels.......

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

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

Accidents could be fun too.

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

  Especially if the flywheel began to precess!

[Banjax]

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

[Ken T]

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. 

Ken