Re: Article: Plug-in hybrid

On Sun, 14 Aug 2005 17:28:50 -0700, jim beam <nospam@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

>Milleron wrote:
>> On Sun, 14 Aug 2005 13:49:14 -0700, jim beam <nospam@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Elmo P. Shagnasty wrote:
>>>
>>>>In article <arSdnQpa4vvHH2LfRVn-og@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
>>>> jim beam <nospam@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>>Is this like buying a book-sized battery pack to stick to the back of
>>>>>>your iPod so that you can go longer between charges?
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>yes. and claiming higher mpg when in fact all you're doing is
>>>>>substituting motive energy from gas to motive energy from the electric
>>>>>utility company. once you're outside the range of the extra battery
>>>>>pack, mpg goes back to where it was before, or worse due to additional
>>>>>charging losses.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>And additional weight with less carrying capacity.
>>>>
>>>>That was really my point--what are you achieving except to move your
>>>>transportation costs from one energy bill to another?
>>>>
>>>
>>>you got it!
>>
>>
>> Did you guys read the whole article? I'm not vouching for the
>> accuracy of the article, but they're claiming that the greenhouse
>> gases and pollutants produced during the generation of the electricity
>> used are much less than those produced by burning the oil necessary to
>> propel the auto the same distance. I, myself, don't even own a
>> hybrid, but I'd be reluctant to insult the intelligence of those
>> proposing this innovation by insinuating that they forgot that the
>> electricity was produced by burning fossil fuel. Calculating the
>> break-even point of this proposition is going to be a little more
>> complicated than that.
>> Ron
>
>did you read this tread?
Sure I read the thread. Nowhere in is mentioned the points you make
in your last paragraph.

>the claim that simply adding batteries creates
>higher mpg is utterly bogus.
In fact, it's utterly true. That "g" in "mpg" stands for gallon.
These vehicles can go more miles on a gallon of GASOLINE, hence HIGHER
MPG. I don't know that they're claiming that they go farther on an
original kilocalorie of fossil fuel (combined coal, natural gas, or
oil + the gasoline from the pump), but they definitely go farther on a
gallon of gasoline. Some of the proponents of the plan see that as a
way of lessening dependence on foreign oil. Whether the process is
ultimately more efficient or not, these autos use less GASOLINE for
driving on short trips between recharges. I think that's all they're
saying right now. It's for that strategic reason, and not for
practical reasons, that the former cabinet secretaries are behind the
initiative.

>that's why i say, and repeat for your
>benefit, that if the author wants to claim high mpg, he should go the
>whole way and drive a fully electric vehicle.
Why???

>you're right that generation of electricity at the average power plant
>is both cheaper & more efficient than within a car engine, but otoh, the
>majority of grid power is generated by burning coal which is mostly
>carbon. as least gasoline is a hydrocarbon, so proportionally, less of
>the output is co2. and burning gasoline does not emit the gross tonnage
>of mercury, cadmium, etc. of coal burning power stations.

Some of the proponents of this plan -- the ones with strategic goals
for it -- may be hoping, ultimately, for sources of electricity that
are cleaner than coal -- nuclear, wind . . . cold fusion for all I
know. What they're producing at this point are, admittedly,
prototypes. I don't see any reason for discouraging or denigrating
them.

Ron
.

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