EV question for the Greenies on this board

[aix_xpert]

Honest question in which I don't have the answer:

From a global warming perspective, which is more harmful for the environment:

Charging an EV using Coal generated power?
Or driving an equivalent car using gasoline?

 

[07pilt]

Honest question in which I don't have the answer:

From a global warming perspective, which is more harmful for the environment:

Charging an EV using Coal generated power?
Or driving an equivalent car using gasoline?

More or less the same. +/-

 

[aix_xpert]

More or less the same. +/-

So until we get rid of coal power plants, which we can't do until we either bring more non-coal power online or reduce the overall usage on the grid (of which EV contribute), converting to an EV makes no difference (+/-) to global warming?

 

[LAY THE WOODY]

Sleepy needs to pull his demented melon out of his ass. Oh wait, it's too late! 🤣

 

[LAY THE WOODY]

EV will never work in America.

 

[GoldGrill]

Why the hell would someone in North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana or Alaska drive an EV?

 

[07pilt]

So until we get rid of coal power plants, which we can't do until we either bring more non-coal power online or reduce the overall usage on the grid (of which EV contribute), converting to an EV makes no difference (+/-) to global warming?

Most generation is not from coal in the year of our lord 2023

 

[LAY THE WOODY]

Why the hell would someone in North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana or Alaska drive an EV?

My man! I'll keep it short, because they're working folk! 👍

 

[aix_xpert]

Most generation is not from coal in the year of our lord 2023

Not relevant. If we didn't put electric cars on the grid, then we'd be closer to retiring that coal use, but because we've expanded the grid usage, we've had to maintain coal usage, which eliminates any efficiencies gained from the use of EVs.

 

[07pilt]

Not relevant. If we didn't put electric cars on the grid, then we'd be closer to retiring that coal use, but because we've expanded the grid usage, we've had to maintain coal usage, which eliminates any efficiencies gained from the use of EVs.

This would be true if the marginal kWh came from coal fired generation, but it doesn't. The marginal kWh is either renewable or combined cycle gas.

Year 2000 carbon intensity of electricity generation in the US: 533 gCO2e/kWh
Year 2022 carbon intensity of electricity generation in the US: 366 gCO2e/kWh

In 2000 generation was 3802 TWh and in 2022 it was 4243

So even on an absolute basis CO2 emissions have declined even as the amount of electricity produced has increased, which is why switching from ICE to BEV decreased CO2 emissions.