What's with the sudden backlash against electric vehicles?

Question

Okay to be fair it's only 2 questions, but there were many responses containing negative and incorrect information about EVs from people who should know better by now.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070901171558AAUul1E&r=w&pa=FZptHWf.BGRX3OFMiTxSV9Co6xRNVin3JTGJsprhDLJzTZg1iwAyvZqDvJlpEdKiOeLVrwhxY_UIX0qnCQ--&paid=answered#RsR4WTC1UGLXAOZlOfd26Pr22G__DAD6hVJeJW5TpX.ayPFJ4ZHX
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AmY.kSXthgJqQKvUx.XR2_J0.Bd.?qid=20070902020813AAcHuR7

Granted ideally our power would come purely from renewable energy, which would make EVs emissions-free. However, even with a power grid based purely on coal, electric vehicles would reduce greenhouse gas emissions as compared to gas cars. With the US grid mix, they're a big improvement over hybrids, let alone gas cars

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Am2pWOxnFjdvlJ7qKN05Uwzty6IX?qid=20070827141524AAc0HaA

Does anyone have data to refute this, or shall we accept the benefits of EVs now?

Answer 1

I believe electric vehicles to be a very good idea. As for the so called 'sudden backlash' these people need to think the idea through to fully understand the benefits.

Answer 2

In the case of those 2 posts, I wonder if someone isn't playing "Spin Doctor", but Hybrid cars do have a dark side that is unacceptable in the long run. Truthfully, those batteries are evil! Nickel mining is dirty business! See the source of Toyota's nickel for their "Green Cars" here:http://www.minesandcommunities.org/Action/press183.htm
Hybrid cars do not make driving "Greener". They simply move the pollution out of sight. This is a symptom of the fact that we are still not thinking "Globally" Moving the mess outside our neighborhood or even our country doesn't make us better or "greener" neighbors.

In reality the Prius actually uses more energy to make and operate than a Hummer does. See the facts here: http://www.reason.org/commentaries/dalmia_20060719.shtml

Beware of any eco-friendly ideas that require the purchase of a new item! Every new item including electric vehicles require a manufacturing process that adds to the over all problem. Right now, being green is a fad that inspires people to buy more, more, more....in the future being green will mean buy less, use less, and use what you have until it is worn out. When you buy stuff you are feeding the FAD...when you actually start re-using what you already have then you are MAKING A DIFFERENCE!

Answer 3

I don't think there is backlash. I think many of the posts here have simply pointed out that the bulk of the electricity in the US comes from fossil fuels (a little over 60%). As a result, electric vehicles in the US are still 60% contributory to global warming. And, when we talk about using electric vehicles, we forget to include the loss of efficiency of transmitting the electricity.

At least that's better than 100%!

Answer 4

I think it is just a misunderstanding of what benefits are being claimed for electric cars. If someone thinks it is being claimed that electric cars result in no net pollution at all, they rightly deny that. And lots of people equate zero car emissions with zero total net environmental impact, even though it is wrong to do so. Just like so many people are saying we will all die in 50 years unless we stop global warming. People just have no clue in general and just jump to whatever first conclusion pops into their mind. When that conclusion is preposterous, they don't stop to think that their own interpretation of what is being said might be flawed, they say, "nonsense, you are stupid" without really thinking.

Answer 5

Emissions aside, I think they would still be better than anything that uses gasoline, since the US has the equivalent of several Saudi Arabia's worth of oil in coal energy. Though we could use a better way to extract it that wouldn't cause so many worker deaths.

Answer 6

no matter how for short commute electric car's are the winner but people have to change their driving habits Ev's get their best range if you drive them easy. if you test a Tesla's acceleration and top end it will only go a couple of miles on a full charge. also it's only a solution for transportation to be truly green the power grid needs to loose coal and the safe way to mine is the most Eco disastrous. strip mining.

Answer 7

If everyone stored surplus grid based energy in their automobiles, the government wouldn't net as much tax revenue off gasoline. And they may only be able to maintain 5 Aircraft Carrier Groups across the globe, instead of 10.

Answer 8

how are we going to charge all these vehicles?

environmentalists won't let allow to be built the following power plants:

coal, NG, fuel oil (fossil fuels)

hydro-electric, (environmentally damaging to fish/wildlife)

wind (environmentally damaging to wildlife and the aesthetic landscape)

nuclear (obvious)

only thing available is solar
(which requires a lot of area, disturbing micro ecosystems + possible wildlife).

so, since we already have a electricity shortage (rolling black out of the last few years), and we can't build anymore generating capacity, how are we going to fuel the entire U.S. fleet if it switched to EV?

the other factor is recharging.

currently, if i forget to fill up in the evening, i can do it the next morning in 15 minutes.

that will get me 300 miles at 90 mph. further if i drive a little slower. some days i might drive 600 per day.

is there ANY EV vehicle that can do that?

that speed, with that range, and that amount of turn around for refueling?

EV WERE in the marketplace 100 years ago, along with gasoline and steam powered cars.

the MARKETPLACE (your ancestors) opted for gasoline, naturally phasing out the voltaic and steam powered carriages for a reason.

what makes you think it's gonna change now? because you say it should?

Answer 9

Explain to me how we would heat the car's interior in winter in cold climates. How well would the batteries function at 30 below?

Answer 10

dana1981, I agree with you. (not those idiots who think otherwise)