Expert Opinions
Nidhi Bhat
Q: I asked this question on 7/13/2000: What is your opinion on the future effectiveness of electric cars--will they help insure a cleaner future for the world?
A: Li0ness answered on 7/14/2000:
To tell you the truth, the jury is still out on that one.
Proponents of electric vehicles claim they will help to clean up the environment. These proponents fail to acknowledge the environmental effects other than tailpipe emissions. For example:
--An electric van is responsible for 763 percent more sulfur dioxide emissions than a highly efficient fuel-burning van, because coal is used to fire many electric plants, according to the General Accounting Office.
--Electric cars with lead-acid batteries would create more than 60 times the amount of lead pollution of a vehicle burning leaded gasoline, according to researchers at Carnegie-Mellon
University.
Now if only we could produce electricity more cleanly....J
Q: I asked this question on 7/13/200: With the growing number of electric cars appearing all over the country, many are optimistic about a cleaner future. What is your opinion on the effect of electric cars for our environment's future?
A: Invertebrate answered on 7/29/2000: I believe that the air quality will be better because the electricity that is generated comes from large coal, fossil or natural gas fired electrical generators. The generators have the best emission controls that are available for reducing NOx, SO2 and particulates. Cars although they have come a long way are hard to fit with high efficiency controls. Her Horsepower produced for cars but electricity it is cleaner that a horsepower produced by a car that relies on an internal combustion engine. The larger the engine or generator the cheaper and easier it is to provide and abate air pollution.
Invertebrate
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