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In 2007, U.S. oil consumption was over 20 million barrels a day. The next closest consumer is China at 7.5 million barrels a day. This staggering use of resources makes the United States the largest consumer of oil in the world by 12.5 million barrels of oil a day, and much of that oil is used to produce electricity. In fact, 70 percent of the electricity generated in this country is produced by fossil fuels like oil and coal.
So the question becomes, are we trading one use of oil for another when we switch to electric cars, because electricity is produced by oil. The short answer is, not really. While it's true that fossil fuels are burned to produce electricity, more coal is used than oil.
Another thing to consider is that 30 percent of our electricity is generated by using alternatives such as wind and solar. That number will continue to climb as we continue on into the twenty-first century. -
Seventy percent of the available energy stored in the fossil fuels we use is lost during power generation, no matter if it is used to produce gasoline or electricity. So which of the methods of transportation is most efficient after production?
The electric car loses 75 to 80 percent of the available power through heat caused by friction, making it 20 to 25 percent efficient. As development of more efficient electric motors continues, this form of transportation will become more efficient. While on the surface, this seems like a horribly inefficient way to produce power for transportation, the gasoline engine is far less efficient. The gasoline engine is only about 15 percent efficient, giving the electric motor a fuel economy equivalent of a whopping 188 mpg. -
Pollution caused by the electric car is negligible, with very minor emissions of sulfur caused when the batteries charge and discharge. When compared to current emissions standards, electric cars are zero emissions.
The gasoline engine by comparison does not fare as well. Gasoline and diesel fuel burned in internal combustion engines for transportation account for 54 percent of nitrites of oxygen, 89 percent of carbon monoxide and 28 percent of carbon dioxide pollution produced in the country. Switching to electric drops those percentages to zero, and only slightly increases sulfur emissions. - Pollution caused by disposal of batteries, both lead acid and lithium, is also very low. Ninety-seven percent of the lead acid batteries in this country are recycled making them the most recycled product. Lithium used in lithium ion batteries is proving to have high recycle rates as well because it is rare and difficult to produce.
- When compared to the internal combustion power we use for transportation today, the electric car seems to have a fair edge in terms of environmental impact. It is a more efficient use of power, has far lower emissions and its power source is recyclable. Overall the electric car could give us a real improvement in the environment in terms of air quality and energy efficiency.
