Dear Dr. Hawking, Is the electric car the best alternative we have in reducing the high CO2 levels?

Question

If it is true that the amount of cars in America are contributing to our earth's rapidly changing climate, then shouldn't we focus on the importance of developing this technology? If so, then what would be your advice for an average person like myself that wants to alert as many people as I can to vote elected officials into office that can actually pay attention to real problems facing us all?

Answer 1

I cannot speak for the Doctor, but here is how I see our transportation alternatives.

A pure electric car is workable but not yet the best alternative because batteries cannot yet supply the range needed for a general purpose passenger vehicle.

There are several myths about electric vehicles as the first two answers illustrate, currently the majority of electricity comes from fossil fuels but what they fail to point out is that significant amount come from greenhouse gas free sources, which are nuclear and hydroelectric. Further they fail to note that natural gas is a rapidly growing source which puts out far less CO2 than does gasoline. They also fail to note that centralized power sources are much better suited to implementing CO2 sequestration strategies such as those being pursued by the "clean coal" initiative. And finally they fail to note that the fastest growing electricity generation sectors Solar and Wind are completely pollution free and have the lowest environmental impact of any energy source.

In addition to global warming there is another urgent reason to consider transportation alternatives and that is Peak Oil. We are at or are very near to the peak production rate for oil. Once that peak has been reached, and that might be already, oil production will slowly diminish. We will still be able to pump oil for decades but at ever decreasing rates. That will make gas prices just keep on climbing never to fall again. It also means that over time there simply will be less and less gas no mater what we pay for it.

The best solution to these problems is probably not a pure electric car but rather a plug-in hybrid car. With a slightly bigger battery and an electric cord to charge the battery at night, people are getting between 80 and 250 miles per gallon with Toyota Priuses today. With a car specifically design as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) it would be simple for most people to get 250 miles per gallon. The PHEV uses just its batteries for the first 50 miles or so of travel, which is enough to cover most people's daily travel. If you need to take a longer trip then the PHEV starts using the fuel and you can go 500 or more miles on a single tank of gas or better yet on a single tank of ethanol.

PHEV technology would allow the United States to reduce our oil imports to zero and we could completely eliminate the use of oil for transportation by switching to bio-fuels. We would only need about 1/10th as much bio-fuel using PHEV so that would be very possible.

Answer 2

I imagine you are speaking of Stephen Hawking, who admittedly has a lot to say about a lot of things, but is mainly involved in Physics. Many of his theories are now being challenged. He did some interesting math. Superstring Theory is becoming ridiculed however, and being called "not even a theory". I am not Stephen Hawking, but by mentioning how wrong his theories are, perhaps word will get back to him, and he might actually respond to your question , since he likes to speculate so much. There is a new book coming out called "Not Even Wrong", the title comes from an old saying in science that is applied when something is so unscientific and wrong - it's Not Even Wrong. This new book is all about how far off Superstring "Theory" is. Enough with that, as to your real question that I doubt you expected Hawking to answer, the earlier answers are correct up to a point. To use other polluting sources to create energy for electric cars would be a somewhat sideways track to take.None the less an electric motor is far more efficient at using energy so there may be some slight advantage. If wind or solar power was used it would be better. In fact I designed a new breed of solar power vehicle that would be feasible in any form up to large semi trucks, but would have little battery storage, and hence would only be reliable in daylight hours, even in storms. Un-limitted range as well in daytime. Gasoline engines are amongst the most inefficient forms of energy using motors available. An electric motor is far more efficient and has in many cases a far greater torque value. In short, when perfected electric cars stand a chance of not only being more energy efficient, but able to haul more weight or being a lot faster than gasoline driven vehicles. That is something that has not really been disclosed in the literature.So in all forms electric motors are very worthwhile to study and bring online as feasible. For instance when a Semi is hooked up to it's trailer, imagine how much energy would be produced if the trailer top was completely covered with solar cells, just hook up the power lines and go. Drivers are already limited to how many hours they can drive each day, so if they drive in the daytime and rest and load at night (normal sleep pattern for most people) they would stop adding pollution instantly, and as they are used the most for travel on highways over other vehicle's "constant" use; this would have a major impact. There is little doubt that electric is the future, even without considering pollution, (wink) fast cars are hot !
Mystery

Answer 3

No one knows the "best alternative", most likely a combination of either hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles or pure electric with batteries. Right now hybrids are just a stepping stone. And to "Engineer", I'd like to see these prius' that get 80-250 mpg, if you check Toyota's website they claim 60 city and 51 highway. The tests used are not entirely accurate and present higher numbers than most owners report. I've driven two different ones and both reported under 50 mpg average. I just hate to see false information flying around like this.

Answer 4

The electricity powering the car has to come from somewhere. Also, electric cars are relatively expensive, and do not provide the range or performance of internal-combustion powered vehicles. Most of the problem stems from coming up with a battery that is light enough and can store enough energy to move a fairly heavy vehicle around. Such batteries tend to be very heavy, as well as expensive.

Answer 5

even if electricity should be produced by using burning fossil gas an electric powered motor is a techniques extra useful compared to favourite gas engine interior a motor vehicle. also even as an electric powered vehicle isn't operating its not eating gas (even as gas engine continues to be burning gas) finally even as an electric powered vehicle stops multiple the electricity is placed lower back into battery. So universal its a lot extra useful utilization of gas (even once you burn coal to make electricity to fee motor vehicle) also because that vast means businesses generate electricity at one position its a lot less demanding to take care of pollution and make the plant extra useful. finally once you generate electricity utilising PV its completely emmission loose so that is the cleanest technique PV+EV

Answer 6

Where do you suppose electricity comes from? If you plug your car into an outlet that runs off of a smoke-belching coal plant, how is that better for the air than a relatively clean-burning gas engine?

Answer 7

It is the burning of coal that produces large quantities of CO2.Only if the electric cars battery's aren't being charged by coal fired power plant.