The Guardian - 12/03/11
The UK's electricity supply relies heavily on fossil fuels, so just how eco-friendly are electric cars?
Article continues ...
Carbon confusion relating to EVs
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Carbon confusion relating to EVs
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adam2
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The article linked to is more balanced than some, and seems accurate.
At present an EV is greener than a FF one, though not by a great margin.
It could however be argued that most EVs are charged at night whilst the owners sleep and that the carbon intensity of night time electrcity is lower as it contains more wind power.
It is also probable that the percentage of our electricity generated from wind will increase in the next few years, and that the burning of coal will decline.
As supplies of readily accesable oil deplete, more challenging oil sources will used such as tar sands and small oil fields in remote places. The carbon cost of finding, extracting, and refining such supplies is likely to increase substantialy.
At present an EV is greener than a FF one, though not by a great margin.
It could however be argued that most EVs are charged at night whilst the owners sleep and that the carbon intensity of night time electrcity is lower as it contains more wind power.
It is also probable that the percentage of our electricity generated from wind will increase in the next few years, and that the burning of coal will decline.
As supplies of readily accesable oil deplete, more challenging oil sources will used such as tar sands and small oil fields in remote places. The carbon cost of finding, extracting, and refining such supplies is likely to increase substantialy.
"Installers and owners of emergency diesels must assume that they will have to run for a week or more"