“Hybrids are Good, but Plug-Ins are Bettah!”
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 03.31.06
Plug-in hybrids exist. They get 100 miles to the gallon or more. People want them. But car companies won’t make them. As part of their quest to mobilize consumer demand and prove technical feasibility, Cal Cars has launched a little piece of promo called Bettah! The animated short is another snappy number from Free Range, the nice folks who brought us Store Wars and The Meatrix. Co-sponsored by Americans for Energy Independence, Bettah! paints plug-ins as the next logical step in the evolution of human invention. If you find yourself convinced, you can sign a petition telling automakers that, as a consumer, you want to see plug-ins in the showroom. Cal Cars hopes to get signatures from 100,000 people—the same number who bought a regular hybrid in the last six months. Thanks to tipster Charles. :: Bettah! and Cal Cars
Hi- I'm intrigued about these plug-in hybrids and their impressive mileage, however I admit to not knowing much about them. Maybe someone can help me with this question: how can this be good for the environment if the electricity from plugging these cars in is derived from fossil fuels? Any thoughts?
-Seth
Forgive me for stating the (somewhat) obvious, but it's helpful to keep in mind that the fuel/emissions savings from switching from 50 mpg cars to 100 mpg cars is exactly half that that one gets from switching from 25 mpg to 50 mpg (i.e. in each case, you're halving the amount of fuel used, but in the former case, the original amount of fuel used is half as great). This lessens slightly the case that plug-ins are the next logical step after hybrids, since it changes the benefits side of the cost-benefit analysis.
Seth,
I hear you. I live in California and the exciting news in our state is the is California Solar Initiative which provides significant rebates for those installing solar systems. If you plug your electric car into your home outlet and you're generating electricity via the sun, you're taking a giant step away from fossil fuel dependence. Also since most people drive their cars to work during the day when the sun is at its brightest, workers should suggest to their companies(i'm thinking wealthier corporations here), to install solar charging stations so batteries can be recharged while they're at work. ir
Shit cartoon.
Interesting concept.
Shame they are such a rip off at the moment.
Seth:
The power plant is more effecient than a car's engine. Every last bit of energy they lose out of a smoke stack is profit lost, so you get more power per emmision. Also, due to deregulation, greener power suppliers are avaliable in some areas.
Considering that people are supremely lazy, I think there would be an aversion to "plugging in your car at night". I think a more saleable approach is to have a magnetic induction system built into the car that allows the owner to simply put a plate down in the driveway or garage that he can park over in the evening, allowing contactless recharging.
Ben, that could be a possibility, but even considering lazy people, pluging your car (which becomes an habit that you soon forget about) is still easier than going to the gas station every week to fill it up.
Ben is absolutely correct in one case, and wrong in another. The moment for hybrid vehicles are now, but plug-ins can wait (until better battery technology is available). To replace your standard nickel metal hydrid Prius battery, with 18 lead-acid batteries, you add substantial weight to the car and you give up trunk space and spare-tire space. On the Prius, that is already at a premium. Plug-in technology is ready when lithium batteries are ready.
As for Ben's inductive charging suggestion to convert electricity to magnetic field energy back to electric energy does not make sense since to lose energy every time you convert it. People that lazy, you should stay with gas engines. It takes energy and environmental resources to make the batteries. Abused batteries will die prematurely. That will be expensive and wasteful.