Former Electric-car Engineer: Electric Cars Pollute More Than Gas

[FrankRep]

http://www.thenewamerican.com/media/k2/items/cache/fb1cd7bc244167e7586592c1ce541fbc_M.jpg (http://www.thenewamerican.com/tech/environment/item/15971-former-electric-car-engineer-electric-cars-pollute-more-than-gas)


Former Electric-car Engineer: Electric Cars Pollute More Than Gas (http://www.thenewamerican.com/tech/environment/item/15971-former-electric-car-engineer-electric-cars-pollute-more-than-gas)


The New American (http://www.thenewamerican.com)
12 July 2013


Is the only “green” aspect of electric cars the money some companies make off them? If former plug-in advocate and General Motors engineer Ozzie Zehner (shown) is correct, this is exactly the case.

Author of the book Green Illusions (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0803237758/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0803237758&linkCode=as2&tag=libert0f-20), Zehner once built his own hybrid car that could run on electricity or natural gas. And, he writes in a recent article entitled “Unclean at Any Speed (http://spectrum.ieee.org/energy/renewables/unclean-at-any-speed),” he was convinced cars such as his “would help reduce both pollution and fossil-fuel dependence.”

But he now says, “I was wrong.”
...


Full Story:
http://www.thenewamerican.com/tech/environment/item/15971-former-electric-car-engineer-electric-cars-pollute-more-than-gas



http://i43.tinypic.com/e7yn0h.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0803237758/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0803237758&linkCode=as2&tag=libert0f-20)
Green Illusions: The Dirty Secrets of Clean Energy and the Future of Environmentalism (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0803237758/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0803237758&linkCode=as2&tag=libert0f-20)
Ozzie Zehner, 2012

[Zippyjuan]

Biggest environmental cost is the production and disposal of the batteries. How "clean" they are depends on the source of the electricity generating the power you put into the batteries. I was out for a bike ride this week and saw a Prius with bragging artwork on the side- the WHOLE SIDE- of the car- "My car is completely green. Its Carbon Footprint is being offset by" can't remember the exact words here but it was some saline plant in Mexico. Not sure how the carbon escaping from this car and it power plant were getting all the way down to Mexico and getting "offset" there. Maybe there is some collection tank on the car that ships it down there (creating more carbon to ship it?) or what. "Carbon offsets" are an illusion to make people feel good. Yeah, it was a rich neighborhood.

[69360]

Everytime I see a prius it's doing 80-90 in the fast lane passing everyone. So much for saving fuel.

[Anti Federalist]

Everytime I see a prius it's doing 80-90 in the fast lane passing everyone. So much for saving fuel.

My Jetta diesel blows away a Prius WRT to fuel economy at those speeds.

[tod evans]

"Green" is subjective, just as "economical" is.

Break the total operating costs down over 25 years...

[Anti Federalist]

Biggest environmental cost is the production and disposal of the batteries. How "clean" they are depends on the source of the electricity generating the power you put into the batteries. I was out for a bike ride this week and saw a Prius with bragging artwork on the side- the WHOLE SIDE- of the car- "My car is completely green. Its Carbon Footprint is being offset by" can't remember the exact words here but it was some saline plant in Mexico. Not sure how the carbon escaping from this car and it power plant were getting all the way down to Mexico and getting "offset" there. Maybe there is some collection tank on the car that ships it down there (creating more carbon to ship it?) or what. "Carbon offsets" are an illusion to make people feel good. Yeah, it was a rich neighborhood.

The only thing that is getting shipped anywhere is that rich yuppie's money, to salve his conscience.

[aGameOfThrones]

Biggest environmental cost is the production and disposal of the batteries. How "clean" they are depends on the source of the electricity generating the power you put into the batteries. I was out for a bike ride this week and saw a Prius with bragging artwork on the side- the WHOLE SIDE- of the car- "My car is completely green. Its Carbon Footprint is being offset by" can't remember the exact words here but it was some saline plant in Mexico. Not sure how the carbon escaping from this car and it power plant were getting all the way down to Mexico and getting "offset" there. Maybe there is some collection tank on the car that ships it down there (creating more carbon to ship it?) or what. "Carbon offsets" are an illusion to make people feel good. Yeah, it was a rich neighborhood.

Smug?

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2dndd6JrY1r4gei2o6_400.gif

[Henry Rogue]

book marked

The unintended consequences of the state. From article.

• Combustion vehicles’ emissions are concentrated in wealthier urban areas whereas the activities necessary to obtain the substances for the creation and operation of electric vehicles — such as nuclear-fuel, heavy-metal and mineral extraction, and energy generation — occur mainly in more depressed rural regions. This means that electric technology may just shift the pollution burden from the rich to the poor.

[The Northbreather]

I like the facts he's exposed but his book seems like an argument for central planing and "enlightened government" among other pitfalls.

From the description on amazon:
(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0803237758/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0803237758&linkCode=as2&tag=vglnkc4812-20)

This practical, environmentally informed, and lucid book persuasively argues for a change of perspective. If consumption is the problem, as Ozzie Zehner suggests, then we need to shift our focus from suspect alternative energies to improving social and political fundamentals: walkable communities, improved consumption, enlightened governance, and, most notably, women’s rights. The dozens of first steps he offers are surprisingly straightforward. For instance, he introduces a simple sticker that promises a greater impact than all of the nation’s solar cells. He uncovers why carbon taxes won’t solve our energy challenges (and presents two taxes that could). Finally, he explores how future environmentalists will focus on similarly fresh alternatives that are affordable, clean, and can actually improve our well-being.

[anaconda]

My Jetta diesel blows away a Prius WRT to fuel economy at those speeds.

You must have a 2009 or newer. 140 HP & lots of torque. Nice and quiet, too.

[TruckinMike]

My 1985 (non-electronically controlled/no emission equipment) Chevy blazer diesel gets 21 mpg on the highway pulling an M101-A1 trailer at 60 mph(with a 3-speed turbo 400 automatic tranny (no overdrive)). And It weighs 5200 lbs EMPTY not including the trailer.

Are we sure technology has helped us?

And as for Battery pollution -- they should put their efforts in Nickel-Iron batteries. Using modern manufacturing techniques could make replacement batteries a thing of the past using the edison. --Oops, that wouldn't work out so well for the manufacturers....hhmm I guess that's why Exide bought out the Edison battery company in 1972 and shut downs its Nickel-iron battery(Edison Battery) production.

Yes, Nickel-iron batteries are heavier and slower(current wise), but that could be remedied with good engineering. But thats only needed in the device and transportation market -- energy storage apps could use them as they are even with their 100 plus year old technology.

[Carson]

They will consume energy but it gives us the opportunity to shift some of the energy consumption to a more opportune time.

I've heard there are ways to set some chargers to kick on at a certain time. That could be late at night or other times leveling out electrical production. The up and down cycles in production creates a huge expense. Most generators need to run steady.

Here in California a system was built to pump water up hill in low times of need. As demand increase the water could then run down hill through turbines.


Besides;

http://photos.imageevent.com/stokeybob/morestuff/RippedofffromJakeatTeslaMod.jpg