Does using an electric car help stop global warming?

Question

rather than using a regualr petrol car?

Answer 1

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Good question! But the answer will apparently surprise some people here. It doesn't matter what power plants burn. Electric cars will help stop global warming, because they don't cause anywhere near the pollution other cars do, and I will show exactly why.
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First, only about half the electricity created comes from burning coal, but this is still our major pollution worry. Only 3% comes from oil.
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But much electricity is wasted in the evening, and at night, because most powerplants can't be turned off when demand goes down. Electric cars charge mostly at night. There is currently enough wasted electricity to charge millions of electric cars, before more plants will need to be built. No new pollution will be created by using electricity that otherwise goes to waste.
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But how about when electric cars catch on, and new plants have to be built? Hopefully these will be clean plants. But even if they are coal plants, new designs for coal generated electrical plants are 85% efficient, far more efficient than your sub-25% efficient gasoline engine. Greater efficiency means more miles on less fuel, and therefore less pollution per mile.
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But even if all the above were not true, electric cars would still produce much less pollution than gas cars, because of the greater efficiency of electric drive (electric motor, 95% efficient, versus gas engine, 25% efficient.) Delivering energy by wire to electric cars (95% efficient) is also much, much more efficient than trucking gas to thousands of service stations.
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The proof of all this is right in the fuel prices. Gasoline costs about at least 10 cents per mile. Electric cars drive around for only about a penny per mile. The difference comes from efficiency. Much greater efficiency = much less pollution.
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Betcha didn't realize that your gas car uses electricity. Yep, large amounts of electricity is used to refine gasoline. Gasoline makes pollution during refining, it makes pollution when it's being delivered to gas stations, and it makes pollution when you use it. ANYTHING would be better than gasoline.
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Incidentally, hydrogen cars are also electric cars, with the hydrogen fuel cell serving as the battery. But they are less efficient than battery-powered cars, because of the extra electricity required to extract the hydrogen, and the wasted energy of transporting hydrogen to service stations.
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Answer 2

People writing in here are misunderstanding the technology of "electric cars," which offer few advantages in terms of fossil-fuel used in the generation of electricity.

The big advantage of electricity is the lack of pollution in the centre of town and cities, and the quiet running of them, which reduces noise-pollution dramatically.

Modern technology is quite different, and is used in certain buses to good effect.

Whenever you lift off the throttle or apply the brakes of a vehicle, you are wasting energy stored up in the kinetic-energy of the moving vehicle, and this is simply converted to waste heat. That waste heat is really waste fuel, which is not being used to propel the vehicle.

The way around this, is to have an electric motor/generator, which may be a device called a dynamotor. When you are coasting down-hill, or braking, the wheels or transmission (I'm not sure which) continue to turn the dynamo or alternator, which then feeds into storage batteries. Eventually, you end up with a battery full of useful energy, which would normally become nothing more than waste heat.

It is a device which has found particular use in urban buses, and which has helped to cut diesel consumption.

The strored electrical energy can be used to drive the vehicle, or at least assist in driving the vehicle in combination with the normal engine, and thus reduce fuel use considerably.

That is GOOD technology, whereas the purely electric car is very dubious technology except for reducing pollution in town centre.

Edit: Don't be seduced by the other answers claiming greater efficiency for electrically powered cars.

Allowing for the inefficient conversion of coal into useable electricity, the loss of energy in transmitting high-voltage energy, the considerable loss of stored energy in batteries and the heat and friction losses concerned with electric-motors; the electric car is no more fuel efficient than a conventional petrol (gasoline) powered vehicle, and possibly less efficient than a high-technology diesel powered vehicle. (Diesel engines can be up to 51% efficient, whereas most IC petrol engines are about 31% efficient.)
As for the mount of energy used to transport motor-fuel, this is comparable with the extraction, processing, bulking,transportation and moving of coal, which also has the added disadvantage of waste management, with much the same transport costs.
In addition, the meaintenance and building of power-stations uses a vast amount of energy.

Like it or not, the diesel engine is still more efficient, and the petrol engine comparable, with possibly less overall pollution.

Answer 3

electric propultion "well to wheel" is far more efficient thaan infernal combustion, even if the generator uses fossil fuel - consider:
-unrefined fuel can be utilised close to source, no tankers
- central generators, running at optimum temperature & load,constantly monitored for efficiency & emmissions, and by the laws of thermodynamics the bigger the energy conversion the more efficient.
- very efficient existing distribution network to refuel at home or work, no pipes, tankers or filling stations
- maximum torque from 0 rpm, simpler transmission, always at optimum rpm
- maximum efficeincy from cold (most journeys are too short for ICE to warm up)
- no consumption when stationary
- energy revovery when slowing down
- electric motors & batteries have less materials and are completely recyclable unlike the complex metalurgy in ice & components like catalyctic conveters

also driving electric is far more enjoyable, smooth, quiete, smell free. Tesla, built by Lotus Norfolk UK 0-60 in 4 seconds 250 miles per charge
or the Phoenix SUT 90mph nano-LI batteries recharge in 10 minutes
and in the UK £0 road tax, £0 petrol tax, £0 congestion charge, even free parking in cities like Westminster.

Electric cars do not stop global warming, but they cause much less damage than infernal combustion, plus offer oportunities for energy security, cleaner, quieter urban environment, and fun driving.
what more do people want? Electric cars are a better technical solution, better environmental solution, better driver satisfaction, cheaper driving, more reliable engine technology

Answer 4

yes you are helping...even though that electricity is coming from the burning of fossil fuels most likely from coal power plants, it is still better than driving a car that runs on regular gasoline. There have been studies and it has been proven. You should watch the Documentary "Who Killed the Electric Car?" It's very good, only 90 minutes, and is narrated by Martin Sheen. It's not talked about very much in the documentary, but they do mention that using an electric car is better for the environment. Plus, it helps reduce our reliance on foreign oil.

Answer 5

A very little right now. Most electricity comes from burning fossil fuels.

A lot more when we start building more nuclear, solar, and wind power plants to make electricity. Which we have to do.

By the way, we all need to start moving those grains of sand. Together, we can solve this.

Answer 6

it will if the electricity used to charge the batteries come from a renewable source, for example your own solar panels/wind turbines or from a hydroelectric power plant. but if its generated by conventional means, eg coal, you'l still be contributing to global warming.

Answer 7

not unless u kno the electrical energy used to charge the battery was generated in a way that helps stop gw.

s'ok, gw is a silly myth
http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pdupont/?id=110009693

Answer 8

Nope how are you recharging the batteries ? by electricity which is made from coal burning or Oil burning power plants

Answer 9

Your contribution is like putting a grain of sand on a beach.

Answer 10

not as much as ppl make it out!
how do you get the electric to power your car?
from burning fossil fuels my friend!!!
strange aint it !