Car Forum / Honda Cars / July 2009
BMW Mini to Sell Electric Cars in U.S. From Summer 2009
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jolly - 02 Jul 2009 11:56 GMT BMW Mini to Sell Electric Cars in U.S. From Summer 2009... http://www.techespot.com/2009/06/bmw-mini-to-sell-electric-cars-in-us.html
Isaiah - 08 Jul 2009 02:55 GMT > BMW Mini to Sell Electric Cars in U.S. From Summer 2009... > http://www.techespot.com/2009/06/bmw-mini-to-sell-electric-cars-in-us.html Hmm...try recharging that thing in CT, where the KW per hour charge is $0.23. I wonder which would have larger carbon footprint, a gas powered vehicle or the fossil fuel needed to recharge an all electric vehicle.....
Leftie - 08 Jul 2009 04:29 GMT >> BMW Mini to Sell Electric Cars in U.S. From Summer 2009... >> http://www.techespot.com/2009/06/bmw-mini-to-sell-electric-cars-in-us.html [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > powered vehicle or the fossil fuel needed to recharge an all electric > vehicle..... The gasoline powered vehicle. In fact, even where the electricity comes from coal, it still pollutes less using an EV than an IC vehicle. But don't let inconvenient reality intrude on your rant!
Isaiah - 08 Jul 2009 06:22 GMT >>> BMW Mini to Sell Electric Cars in U.S. From Summer 2009... >>> http://www.techespot.com/2009/06/bmw-mini-to-sell-electric-cars-in-us.html [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > comes from coal, it still pollutes less using an EV than an IC > vehicle. But don't let inconvenient reality intrude on your rant! It's not a rant, it is quite the contrary. One was an observation, the other is a viable question. Many proponents of electric cars talk about no emissions, yet there are emissions from the power generation that is required to charge the vehicle, but I never have looked into it, and thought someone may have the information readily available, so I guess I'll do a little digging for a few minutes to try and get some facts to answer my own question.....
http://www.gm-volt.com/index.php?s=rechargedhttp://www.gm-volt.com/index.php?s=r echarged
At the bottom of this page from the above link, it it shows a rating of 26-38 KWH per 100 miles, and an average of 32.5. At the electric rates in CT, the cost would be about $7.47 to operate per 100 miles. A gas vehicle that gets 35 MPG would take almost 3 gallons to to operate, so even at the rate of electricity in CT, at the current cost of fuel, this electric car would be an operational winner in that respect.
http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/page/co2_report/co2emiss.pdf has some information on carbon footprint for for differing types of power generation (for most recent year 2000).
Type Lbs/KWH Grams/KWH Coal 2.117 961 Petroleum 1.915 869 Gas 1.314 596
According to http://www.terrapass.com/carbon-footprint-calculator/ a Ford focus emits just about 318K grams per 1,000 miles driven (can't validate the numbers, I just found it and used the Focus and reduced what I got to a per 1k miles)
Using electricity, an all electric vehicle like the one shown above in the first link would need about 325 KWH to drive 1000 miles, coal CO2 emissions would be about 312K grams, while petroleum generation would be 282k grams and gas generation would be 194k, and improvement of 2%, 11,5%, and 39% respectively.
So in this comparison, if your power generation is mainly coal, there is marginal benefit, while the others get progressively better. Unfortunately in the DOE document, it shows that about 50% of our power generation is based on coal, so that will minimize the gains on the CO2 emissions. For us to really take advantage of electric cars, it seems what we really need to do is revamp how we produce electricity (though in general, an average CO2 savings of somewhere around 16%-18% if all vehicles were electric is nothing to sneeze at).
I wonder how many KWH per 100 miles it would take for an all electric Hummer?
(a more up to date document would be more helpful, but I don't have anymore time to invest in it right now).
That seems to be a little more realistic.
Jim Yanik - 08 Jul 2009 13:13 GMT >>> "jolly" <freedatingsites@gmail.com> wrote in message >>> news:4026449f-b8ec-49d0-a4cf-cf561ad13031@f33g2000vbm.googlegroups.co [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >> comes from coal, it still pollutes less using an EV than an IC >> vehicle. But don't let inconvenient reality intrude on your rant!
> It's not a rant, it is quite the contrary. One was an observation, > the other is a viable question. Many proponents of electric cars talk [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > of fuel, this electric car would be an operational winner in that > respect. Ah,but when the Obama carbon "cap n trade" goes into effect,coal-generated electricity will SOAR in price(and US economy will take a nasty dive). Obama has said he wants to put the coal electrics out of business. That's >50% of US electric capacity.Obama will only allow nuclear plants when we have "safe storage",but is killing Yucca Mtn repository by cutting it's funding. Solar and wind cannot make up the difference. Also,we are aleady near full capacity;no room for additional electric loads.
> http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/page/co2_report/co2emiss.pdf > has some information on carbon footprint for for differing types of [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > > That seems to be a little more realistic. People are not going to quickly replace their present gasoline autos with electrics;many cannot afford it. Also,electrics will not do everything gas-powered cars can. Businesses will not be able to use them,they take too long to recharge.
 Signature Jim Yanik jyanik at kua.net
Isaiah - 08 Jul 2009 13:50 GMT >>>> "jolly" <freedatingsites@gmail.com> wrote in message >>>> news:4026449f-b8ec-49d0-a4cf-cf561ad13031@f33g2000vbm.googlegroups.co [quoted text clipped - 56 lines] > electric > loads. IOW, any financial gain will be negated, which will reduce the amount of EV sold. Maybe if we let them place up to 3 spent fuel rods under each new home built.....
>> http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/page/co2_report/co2emiss.pdf >> has some information on carbon footprint for for differing types of [quoted text clipped - 48 lines] > with > electrics;many cannot afford it. I realize this. I just wanted a clearer picture of what is meant by reduced carbon footprint claims.....
> Also,electrics will not do everything gas-powered cars can. > Businesses will not be able to use them,they take too long to > recharge. That may or may not be true, depending on how they are used. In general, we are probably a good 20 years off from being able to change ove en-masse IMO.
News - 08 Jul 2009 13:59 GMT >>>> "jolly" <freedatingsites@gmail.com> wrote in message >>>> news:4026449f-b8ec-49d0-a4cf-cf561ad13031@f33g2000vbm.googlegroups.co [quoted text clipped - 78 lines] > Also,electrics will not do everything gas-powered cars can. > Businesses will not be able to use them,they take too long to recharge. Pickens has let off his wind farm pitch and now proposes re-powering long-haul trucking and municipal transport with LNG, and investing in storage and delivery/"gas station" facilities.
Leftie - 09 Jul 2009 04:47 GMT >>>> "jolly" <freedatingsites@gmail.com> wrote in message >>>> news:4026449f-b8ec-49d0-a4cf-cf561ad13031@f33g2000vbm.googlegroups.co [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > Also,we are aleady near full capacity;no room for additional electric > loads. I really wish that you were right in your worries. The fact is, though, that Obama has already caved to the powerful coal industry in his energy plans. So you can stop worrying about that and start worrying about some other Right-wing Bogeyman. Obama isn't going to "kill" the coal industry (more's the pity) or the economy.
>> http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/page/co2_report/co2emiss.pdf >> has some information on carbon footprint for for differing types of [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > Also,electrics will not do everything gas-powered cars can. > Businesses will not be able to use them,they take too long to recharge. I appreciate your research, Isaih, but it only confirms what I wrote (which wasn't a rant, just an assertion), and you are mistaken about electrics 'taking too long to recharge.' Commercial vehicles will have recharge times of about one hour to 80% and maybe four hours to 100%. Commercial plug-in hybrids will have no problem getting through the day on a single charge.
Joe - 09 Jul 2009 06:55 GMT > People are not going to quickly replace their present gasoline autos with > electrics;many cannot afford it. > Also,electrics will not do everything gas-powered cars can. > Businesses will not be able to use them,they take too long to recharge. I'd imagine that this could be rather easily overcome by getting the car companies to standardize the batteries, and have them be quickly and easily replaced. Then, filling stations could stock the batteries fully charged, and swap them on-the-go, putting the used ones on the chargers.
Of course, that's nothing like it is now...
 Signature Joe - Linux User #449481/Ubuntu User #19733 joe at hits - buffalo dot com "Hate is baggage, life is too short to go around pissed off all the time..." - Danny, American History X
Jim Yanik - 09 Jul 2009 13:41 GMT >> People are not going to quickly replace their present gasoline autos >> with electrics;many cannot afford it. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > fully charged, and swap them on-the-go, putting the used ones on the > chargers. What if the station runs out of the charged packs? It takes FAR longer to recharge them,they would have to maintain a huge stock of packs,at great expense.Multiply that by the number of stations needed for all the vehicles on the roads.
and "standardizing" the packs doesn't allow for the variations in vehicles;some small and needing less capacity(and weight) and larger vehicles needing bigger,heavier,higher capacity packs. It would be like having an econobox with a 100 gallon fuel tank;the weight(and size) negates any gain in efficiency. You can see this is not practical.
And who knows in what condition your power source is then....how old it is or if it's been abused or not. Not to mention that the battery packs are large,heavy,and hazardous due to the high energy stored in them.
Oh,and "easily replaced" is also "easily STOLEN".
> Of course, that's nothing like it is now...
 Signature Jim Yanik jyanik at kua.net
Isaiah - 09 Jul 2009 14:01 GMT >>> People are not going to quickly replace their present gasoline >>> autos [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > > Oh,and "easily replaced" is also "easily STOLEN". Hmm, a whole new black market opportunity. Capitalism at it's best....
>> Of course, that's nothing like it is now... Joe - 09 Jul 2009 14:02 GMT >>> People are not going to quickly replace their present gasoline autos >>> with electrics;many cannot afford it. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > stock of packs,at great expense.Multiply that by the number of stations > needed for all the vehicles on the roads. What if a station runs out of gas? You move on to the next station. The stations that want to do better will start stocking more.
> and "standardizing" the packs doesn't allow for the variations in > vehicles;some small and needing less capacity(and weight) and larger > vehicles needing bigger,heavier,higher capacity packs. > It would be like having an econobox with a 100 gallon fuel tank;the > weight(and size) negates any gain in efficiency. > You can see this is not practical. I can see that you are opposed to thinking outside of the current box. Rather than providing possible improvements in any suggestions, all you generally do is try to poke holes. But that's OK, there's always one...
> And who knows in what condition your power source is then....how old it is > or if it's been abused or not. Standard maintenance. Fuel systems require it, too.
> Not to mention that the battery packs are large,heavy,and hazardous due to > the high energy stored in them. And getting smaller every day. Hell, I can run my laptop now for twice as long as my old one, and the battery is half the size.
> Oh,and "easily replaced" is also "easily STOLEN". Some people like to use locks. Gas ain't so hard to steal, either...
 Signature Joe - Linux User #449481/Ubuntu User #19733 joe at hits - buffalo dot com "Hate is baggage, life is too short to go around pissed off all the time..." - Danny, American History X
Jim Yanik - 09 Jul 2009 15:24 GMT >>>> People are not going to quickly replace their present gasoline >>>> autos with electrics;many cannot afford it. [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > What if a station runs out of gas? You move on to the next station. > The stations that want to do better will start stocking more. the costs to stock numerous battery packs(of more than one type,too) would be prohibitive.they are not inexpensive.
>> and "standardizing" the packs doesn't allow for the variations in >> vehicles;some small and needing less capacity(and weight) and larger [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > I can see that you are opposed to thinking outside of the current box. Oh,don't give me that chicle crap. I'm pointing out PRACTICAL considerations.
> Rather than providing possible improvements in any suggestions, all > you generally do is try to poke holes. But that's OK, there's always > one... Then there's the Utopian dreamers who fail to consider REALITY....
>> And who knows in what condition your power source is then....how old >> it is or if it's been abused or not. > > Standard maintenance. Fuel systems require it, too. Nothing like a battery pack that's been drawn down too far,or sat too long(self-discharge),or been overheated,or has some weak cells.
>> Not to mention that the battery packs are large,heavy,and hazardous >> due to the high energy stored in them. > > And getting smaller every day. Hell, I can run my laptop now for > twice as long as my old one, and the battery is half the size. A lot different than a motor vehicle battery. But PC owners have had batteries short,overheat,faulty construction,etc.
>> Oh,and "easily replaced" is also "easily STOLEN". > > Some people like to use locks. Gas ain't so hard to steal, either... But the value stolen is far less,and far easier to replace.
 Signature Jim Yanik jyanik at kua.net
Leftie - 10 Jul 2009 04:50 GMT >>> People are not going to quickly replace their present gasoline autos >>> with electrics;many cannot afford it. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > stock of packs,at great expense.Multiply that by the number of stations > needed for all the vehicles on the roads. I'm not a fan of this swapping out batteries idea, but you are doing a poor job of criticizing it. If they run out of charged packs, they will have more in a couple of hours. And you don't need a spare pack for every vehicle on the road, only for those vehicles that are traveling long distances, or are owned by people who can't be bothered to recharge them.
> and "standardizing" the packs doesn't allow for the variations in > vehicles;some small and needing less capacity(and weight) and larger > vehicles needing bigger,heavier,higher capacity packs. > It would be like having an econobox with a 100 gallon fuel tank;the > weight(and size) negates any gain in efficiency. > You can see this is not practical. Oh ye of little imagination! Just as gasoline is sold in gallons, battery banks can use standardized battery modules: say four for an econobox, and 8-10 for a van.
> And who knows in what condition your power source is then....how old it is > or if it's been abused or not. > Not to mention that the battery packs are large,heavy,and hazardous due to > the high energy stored in them. Unless the cars are built in America, they will probably have intelligent power management, and will stop running before the batteries are damaged. If made in the US they will probably lots of cupholders, instead. As for being dangerous, have you heard about that bizarre "gasoline" stuff that's fueling so many vehicles now? Yikes!
> Oh,and "easily replaced" is also "easily STOLEN". >> Of course, that's nothing like it is now... Yes, all the thieves would need would be mobile service station bays.
Isaiah - 09 Jul 2009 13:58 GMT >> People are not going to quickly replace their present gasoline >> autos with [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > fully charged, and swap them on-the-go, putting the used ones on the > chargers. That would be a pretty heavy swap out. As far as standards, they can't even standardize cell phone charger hookups....
> Of course, that's nothing like it is now... Joe - 09 Jul 2009 14:12 GMT >>> People are not going to quickly replace their present gasoline >>> autos with [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > That would be a pretty heavy swap out. As far as standards, they > can't even standardize cell phone charger hookups.... Sure they can. They have chosen not to in the past, but more and more are now using a USB port. Cars have had standard fuel fillers for a very long time. This is just a different fuel.
As for heavy, right now it is, but battery technologies are moving pretty quickly these days. What is not doable today is not necessarily impossible...
 Signature Joe - Linux User #449481/Ubuntu User #19733 joe at hits - buffalo dot com "Hate is baggage, life is too short to go around pissed off all the time..." - Danny, American History X
L Alpert - 12 Jul 2009 02:49 GMT >>>> People are not going to quickly replace their present gasoline >>>> autos with [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > Sure they can. They have chosen not to in the past, but more and more > are now using a USB port. How long have cell phones been around, and still it is only at the point where "more and more" are using a standard, and not all?
> Cars have had standard fuel fillers for a > very long time. This is just a different fuel. Not just a different fuel, a new technology, with no set standards except for the 120v cord to recharge it...
> As for heavy, right now it is, but battery technologies are moving > pretty quickly these days. What is not doable today is not > necessarily impossible... I agree, we don't know what the future will bring. Anything is possible, but it will take time and many iterations before any standards will be in place.
Dillon Pyron - 09 Jul 2009 03:42 GMT >> BMW Mini to Sell Electric Cars in U.S. From Summer 2009... >> http://www.techespot.com/2009/06/bmw-mini-to-sell-electric-cars-in-us.html [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >powered vehicle or the fossil fuel needed to recharge an all electric >vehicle..... The larger your powerplant, the more efficient it is. So that IC engine is going to have less thermal efficiency that a 12,000 MW (or however much) oil/gas/coal plant.
My f-i-l was a pwer EE and talked about some plants with turbines exhausting at temperatures within 50 degrees of ambient. Now, today the high was ony 105, so that might give "them" more leeway.
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- dillon I am not invalid
"Jimmy, I'm sorry your girlfriend turned out to be a cylon." -Special Agent Tim McGee, "NCIS"
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