More Coal-fired Power Plants Acceptable If Needed to Recharge Future Electric Cars
Results of month-long poll of EV World readers on whether or not they would support construction of additional coal-fired power plants in order to recharge millions of battery-only electric cars.
(PRWEB) January 5, 2005 -- According to a month-long reader poll conducted
during December 2004 by the on-line magazine, EV World (http://www.evworld.com), a clear
majority of respondents favored the construction of more coal-fired power plants
if they were necessary in order to recharge significant numbers of efficient,
battery-powered electric cars.
Greater reliance on coal poses an obvious
dilemma for advocates of cleaner, more efficient cars and trucks. Of all the
available fossil fuels, coal is, by far, the dirtiest, generating millions of
tons of toxic pollutants and particulate matter, as well as dumping billions of
tons of climate altering greenhouse gases into the atmosphere; more than 25
billion tons in 1995, alone. Its emissions cause acid rain and its mercury can
cause serious birth defects.
All of these dangers are recognized and
understood, which is why both the US government and private companies have
invested on the order of $5 billion since 1985 to perfect 'clean coal'
technology, but with little to show for it to date. There are currently no
'clean coal' plants in operation and none contemplated until sometime after
2020.
For the time being, the relative handful of electric-only cars,
numbering a few hundred, mostly in California, place little strain on the
electric power grid; and some owners use solar panels on their homes to charge
their vehicles. In addition, California energy officials estimate that the state
could easily power up to one million battery electric cars using spare,
over-night generating capacity, before having to consider adding additional
plants.
Some proponents of electric-only vehicles argue that the
emissions from a few hundred coal-generated electricity plants are far easier to
control than from hundreds of millions of gasoline and diesel-engine cars and
trucks. In addition, coal supplies are abundant in the US and North America,
providing obvious national security and economic benefits. It can also be
converted into a liquid transportation fuel similar to diesel fuel or used to
make hydrogen, though the costs are high and the environmental impact
significant.
Still, when asked, "Would you favor construction of more
coal-fired power plants if they are required to make enough electricity to power
millions of battery electric vehicles?" 53% voted "Yes." 39% voted "No" and 8%
were "Unsure". A total of 1,427 readers participated in the poll, which while
not scientific, suggests a willingness on the part of readers to consider coal
as a potential resource for powering electric vehicles in the future, assuming
efforts are successful in controlling its negative aspects.
About EV
World
Published on-line weekly since 1998, EV World features original
content on a wide range of topics related to advanced, alternative fuel
technologies from the latest in battery, gas-electric hybrids and fuel cell
vehicles to renewable energy progress and policy. The publication has
interviewed such notables as General Wesley Clark, former CIA director James
Woolsey and "The Hype About Hydrogen" author Joseph Romm. Interviews are
available in text and MP3 audio format. "EV" is industry jargon for "electric
vehicle" and refers to battery-only, gas-electric hybrids and fuel cell-powered
vehicles, including bicycles and motor scooters, all the way up to buses and
boats.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/1/prweb193737.htm