The anything thread.

[Checkswrecks]

But electric cars will cure that . . . . right? And when did natural gas go from being on then "ok" list . . . . to the "green house gas" list?

It cost me $100 to fill the van a couple of days ago.

It cost me about $3 to "fill" my electric car last night and while electric rates are going to go up, the car will probably still cost less than $4.
The electric car (260 miles) has less range than the van (380 miles) but even if I need to stop at the most expensive fast charger I know of, it will give me about 80% charge (200 miles) in about an hour and cost about $18. $18+$3=$21
And the car is a heck of a lot more fun to drive.

The electricity still comes from somewhere and Maryland has been moving quickly away from coal, which was our main source till not long ago. The recent fast growth of hydro, wind, and solar is taking the places of the natural gas and nuke but they will be around for the rest of our lives.

Natural gas is still a hydrocarbon.

Explainer: Cleaner but not clean - Why scientists say natural gas won't avert climate disaster

Natural gas produces half as much carbon dioxide (C02) when burned than coal, but that doesn't make it harmless. Climate scientists say that rising production of natural gas is emerging as one of the biggest drivers of climate change, and that plans for industry expansion...

www.reuters.com

 

[Jlq1969]

How much does the Van weigh?….and how much does the electric car weigh?

 

[Dirt_Dad]

I don't know how much my mid-sized car weighs, but I do know it's costing me over $70 every 4 days of driving back and forth to work.

Still completely against riding a motorcycle to work. I don't want to ever see a motorcycle as transportation. It's my happy place. If I'm on a bike, I'm in recreation mode. Don't want to have to be some place, or have time pressures when on a bike.

I already hate having to drive a 4 wheeled vehicle. Commuting nearly 2K miles a month will do that to you. I don't want to ever hate riding a bike. Considering part of my commute is at a 80-90MPH flow of traffic, I don't think a bike would be a significant MPG improvement over my 31MPG car.

 

[Sierra1]

The electricity still comes from somewhere and Maryland has been moving quickly away from coal, which was our main source till not long ago. . . .
. . . . Natural gas is still a hydrocarbon.

I have nothing against electric vehicles per se. But like your chart shows, electricity has to come from somewhere . . . . most of the time from a "non-green" source. There are huge methane pockets in Siberia that are venting into the atmosphere. Seems like a bigger problem than I.C. engines.

. . . . I don't want to ever see a motorcycle as transportation. It's my happy place. . . . . I already hate having to drive a 4 wheeled vehicle. . . .

I see where you're coming from, but around here, our drivers do their best to make your drive difficult. My bike makes it much easier to deal with them, and keep me happy. And, yes the local drivers are worse than average. I can go into Ft Worth, and have no issues getting to where I need/want to go.

 

[Scoop47501]

Electric cars are practical for local driving only. However a one hour charge to keep going is a nonstarter for me. That and I believe the minerals used to make batteries come from Russia and Ukraine .

 

[Checkswrecks]

Electric cars are practical for local driving only. However a one hour charge to keep going is a nonstarter for me. That and I believe the minerals used to make batteries come from Russia and Ukraine .

I don't mind stopping for an hour after 4 hours of driving.

While Russia and Ukraine have been the source e for a lot of the EU batteries (mainly VW Group) the rest of the world get materials elsewhere. One of the biggest developments of the last couple of years was figuring out how to cost effectively get lithium from sea water.

 

[Checkswrecks]

How much does the Van weigh?….and how much does the electric car weigh?

It's not the weight (4,866 van vs 3,563 car), it's the frontal area of the Transit van.

 

[Checkswrecks]

I have nothing against electric vehicles per se. But like your chart shows, electricity has to come from somewhere . . . . most of the time from a "non-green" source.

Energy is energy and regardless of source still needs to be produced for either vehicle. The van gets about 16 mpg and the car gets the equivalent of 109-132 mpg.

 

[Mak10]

 

[Sierra1]

Energy is energy and regardless of source still needs to be produced for either vehicle. . . . .

Once again, agreed. My biggest issue with E-vehicles is the infrastructure. The Texas '20/'21 winter showed what shape ours was in. There's still concern that with all of the people moving here, that it could still have issues with high demand. E-vehicle would not help the matter.

And the need to stop and "re-fill" the "tank". Whenever I've driven cross country, I've wanted/needed to get to my destination as quick as possible. I don't want to sit for an hour every 300mi. If I was taking a Tombstone style tour of the country, it would be fine.

I'm with Scoop, E-Vehicles are great for intercity driving. I keep trying to talk my wife into one. They're at their most efficient in stop-n-go traffic, while this is when the I.C. vehicle is least efficient. Plug them in when you get home, and they're ready to in the morning. But, I have to assume that running the A/C has really going to reduce the range. I just haven't heard how much.

There is no perfect solution. I think that eventually each household will have an E-car and an I.C.-car.

 

[jbrown]

An interesting side point in "the energy has to come from somewhere" discussion is the efficiency of scale. Small ICE power plants like we use in personal vehicles are in the 20% to 30% efficiency range at best (much less in stop and go traffic), converting fossil fuel to usable energy. Huge diesel engines (like those used on container ships) can exceed 50% efficiency. So you could see a doubling in the amount of usable energy extracted from fossil fuels if you have centralized large scale generators feeding electric vehicles. Certainly not a permanent solution, but a potential transitional phase as we explore alternative energy sources.

 

[03A3KRH]

Natural gas power plant is approximately 32- 38% efficient. Coal power plant is approximately 32 - 42% efficient. Then there are losses in the lines to a charging station, the charging process itself and in the efficiency of the motors that use the battery’s charge to propel the vehicle.

 

[bimota]

 

[Strummer]

 

[Strummer]

So 40 Euro to fill up my bike...
That doesn't put you in a great mood to travel....
Luckily it's still too cold to ride long distance

 

[bimota]

better than heated grips.

 

[Checkswrecks]

... But, I have to assume that running the A/C has really going to reduce the range. I just haven't heard how much. ...

I plan for 10% less range for the battery itself on really cold mornings (20F today here), plus 8-10% if a lot of heat or AC is needed.

 

[~TABASCO~]

I have a stash of non-ethanol fuel I’ve been saving. Let me show you- I keep it right in here !

 

[Sierra1]

You can pick up those old silos for next to nothing. (Relative to the cost to build)

 

[~TABASCO~]

You can pick up those old silos for next to nothing. (Relative to the cost to build)

Don't sell everyone ! Shhhhhhhhhhhh. LOL