If everything was battery powered wouldn't that reduce our greenhouse gas emissions?

Question

TV's, computers, cars, pretty much everything

Answer 1

In some cases yes, in other cases no.

TVs, computers, and other appliances already get their power directly from the power grid. So do batteries, if you recharge them, except this would be less efficient because batteries are not perfect in storing energy. You'd be taking energy from the power grid to the battery to the appliance instead of directly to the appliance, and losing some energy in the process.

Running appliances on non-rechargeable batteries would require tons and tons of batteries and be extremely wasteful.

Cars on the other hand are more efficient if running off batteries (electric vehicles) than gasoline, as this study shows:

http://www.pluginamerica.com/images/EmissionsSummary.pdf

So basically the answer is yes for cars, no for appliances.

Answer 2

Ideally, yes. However the production of the batteries would increase the amount of potentially toxic materials that could be discarded in landfills. Those toxins could affect the water and soil if not disposed of properly.

Secondly, re-chargable batteries need to get their power from somewhere, so the source to charge them needs to be green-friendly as well...ie Solar, Hydro, etc. It would make a difference in automobiles and boats, but little else.

A battery operated TV? Why not just plug it in to socket that is drawing it's juice from a hydro-plant? It's more efficient.

Answer 3

Try running your battery powered car in a cold climate. Won't get to far before the charge gives out. Nice idea, but not yet.

Answer 4

That would depend on where the electricity to charge the batteries comes from (assuming you are talking about rechargable batteries).

Answer 5

It would depend on how the batteries get charged. If you used generators fueled by oil or coal, like we do now, to charge the batteries, it would make no difference.

Answer 6

where would all the dead batteries go? to the landfill?