Why I don’t own an EV
I live in Rhode Island. Ca. 90% of electricity in Rhode Island is generated by natural gas. So if you re-charge your EV in Rhode Island, you’re fueling your car with natural gas.
Some folks have pointed out that EVs are about twice as efficient as ICE vehicles. That is, they waste about half the energy converting battery electricity to motive force as ICE vehicles do converting gasoline in the tank to motive force.
That’s correct. But what this calculation overlooks is that even in the more advanced combined cycle power plants, only about 60% of the energy stored in natural gas is converted to electricity. So here in Rhode Island, there isn’t much difference between EVs and ICE vehicles for carbon consumption.
Now there are plenty of states that generate more electricity from renewables than RI. And for our electrical needs, we’ve contracted with a solar farm, so if we recharged an EV at our house, it would be running on green fuel.
I’m not constitutionally opposed to EVs, but I believe it’s important to understand where that electricity comes from.
Some folks have pointed out that EVs are about twice as efficient as ICE vehicles. That is, they waste about half the energy converting battery electricity to motive force as ICE vehicles do converting gasoline in the tank to motive force.
That’s correct. But what this calculation overlooks is that even in the more advanced combined cycle power plants, only about 60% of the energy stored in natural gas is converted to electricity. So here in Rhode Island, there isn’t much difference between EVs and ICE vehicles for carbon consumption.
Now there are plenty of states that generate more electricity from renewables than RI. And for our electrical needs, we’ve contracted with a solar farm, so if we recharged an EV at our house, it would be running on green fuel.
I’m not constitutionally opposed to EVs, but I believe it’s important to understand where that electricity comes from.
True; but don’t forget that trump and his republican enablers are actively working to prevent sustainable electricity generation, in ways that increase costs for consumers.
@rick,
They’re fighting a losing battle.
Joel, I think the overall circumstances are more complex, but also think the individual auto-buyer doesn’t need to justify any legal choice here. ICE worked best for your situation is good enough for me and I don’t get why it wouldn’t be a good enough reason for anyone else. But another circumstance to think about apart from Rhode Island electrical generation sources is that the vehicles consumption of energy over it’s operating life might be heavily dominated by future operators say post 2030 in Indiana as an example. You just don’t know, but you can estimate what part of a 250,000 mile operating life could be yours. I think we are the same age (70) and pretty sure when you were first writing about this you mentioned a pretty low annual utilization. Water over the dam at this point, but a good used ICE vehicle that might not even be outstanding on miles/gallon, can yield a pretty giant “net carbon win” if you control it for 3500 miles a year for many years (as many as possible!!) versus the next guy who needs to drive 13500/year. Putting the used ICE fleet into low mileage users at least sets up EV transition a little easier. So years from now when non-carbon sources are better established maybe the “brag” is “I kept 80,000 miles worth of gasoline from getting burned by making my choice in 2025”.
@Eric,
“. . . the individual auto-buyer doesn’t need to justify any legal choice here.”
Never said they did.
When I was growing up in Oregon, hydroelectric accounted for over 80 percent of electricity. It is now less than 40 percent. A lot of EV owners do not realize how much of their electricity is not clean.
While many EV owners may overlook the efficiency loss at the power plant (and the transmission line losses of 5 to 8%), engineers like myself are well aware. EVs are not “twice as efficient”. They are 4 to 5 times as efficient.
So the math is 92% * 60% * 87% = 48% compared to 16 to 25% for ICEs.
https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/electric-vehicle-myths
After accounting for the power plant efficiency, EVs are still 2 to 3 times as energy efficient.
All-in-all though, I really like not stopping at the gas station.
I once ran the numbers until they lost me (and I do math in my sleep and have worked on pickups since the seventies). Generically with a 350 cubic inch V-8 engine and four speed automatic transmission 800 parts have to move before the truck moves. My eMini, I think there’s three
I’ve been pretty vocal around here in my advocacy but virtue signaling has never been my intent. Oh Dog! Please don’t let me be misunderstood …
I recently bought a PHEV. I also have rooftop solar panels that generate about $800 per year more than my house uses. I could use the extra to charge my vehicle and do all my local driving on solar panels. I ran the cost comparison for electric verses gasoline. The general rule is if gasoline per gallon cost 10x more than the cost of electricity per kWh than it is cheaper to run on electricity. Right now in Connecticut electricity is about 30 cents per kWh. Gas is about $2.80. For now I put my vehicle in Hybrid mode and run on gas. I will let my electric credits accumulate in case gas goes back up.
I know electricity is cheaper in many parts of the country so EV’s are still more cost effective.
Good point. Power in Oregon is 16 cents per kWh.
We bought a BEV in November 2022. No federal tax credit.
Why?
1. Our Audi A4 was 14 years old and we wanted (and could afford) a new car.
2. We bought a VW ID.4 because it was higher off the ground, had all wheel drive, German (wife has a thing).
3. We saw electric as the wave of the future.
We really like our VW because:
1. Marginal driving cost is much lower. Our Audi required premium and with city driving cost about 20¢/mile for fuel. The VW costs 5¢/mi.
2. It is very quiet.
3. You can warm/cool the car remotely. No puffing involved.
4. No visits to petrol stations. And we don’t buy (never have) stuff in convenience stores.