Hank [BS/MSEE,
MSM $$$, Ph.D. Mgmt] teaches A gallon of gasoline is 3.79 liters, with energy of 130 MegaJoules, which is 36 kiloWatt hours. At 15¢ a kWh, the same amount of energy from the electric company would cost you $5.40. Here in Indiana, we’re more like 10¢ a kWh, which maps to $3.60. So depending on your local electrical rates, the same amount of energy from the electric company bridges the current cost of a gal of gas.
HOWEVER, a gasoline/diesel engine is going to be at absolute maximum around 40% efficient and an electric motor can easily push 90% efficiency, so you can’t just compare kWh of energy stored in the fuel. Because the electric-driven vehicle is more than twice as efficient in converting energy in the form of kWh to motion, it wins over fossil-fuel hands down.
I expect Jim to have something to say about this? Hank
As a matter of fact I do!
I certainly haven’t been saying this for a LONG time. I actually just read today on Leftlane news (leftlanenews.com) that Mercedes is going to be buying Li-ion batteries from tesla motors. They will make some plug in hybrids, as well as fully electric cars. The SMART car (a division of Daimler, who owns Mercedes-Benz) will also get the batteries. They plan on selling the SMART, A and B class electrics in the EU by 2010. Wonder how long it will take for them to make their way on this side of the pond…
Oh and the Maximum theoretical efficiency of an ICE is 37%. That is in an ideal world (no friction, gasses behave as ideal gasses…). The real world average efficiency of an ICE is 20%. This according to Wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_combustion_engine#Energy_Efficiency
The more people see this fact, the better off they will be.
(and Permanent Magnet Electric Motors push 95% pretty easy these days)
Jim
I do have something to say.
I have been harping on this for sometime now, and I feel like I got put in that category of “there is benzmacx on a rant again…”. So hopefully this adds some legitimacy to my arguments!
I also just read today on leftlanenews that Mercedes-Benz/SMART will be purchasing Li-Ion batteries from tesla for electric vehicles to be on the market by 2010. I don’t think tesla is the best place for Li-Ions but, they are pretty good. I think A123 still has the best, they are locked down with GM now though. Which is unfortunate as I know Mercedes would do a much better job with them. The Volt is a joke. Plug in hybrid that gets something like 40miles on electricity. Just another weak showing by GM, but maybe the hype around the volt will help it sell.
And according to Wikipedia an ICE (Internal Combustion Engine, i.e. the thing that powers your car) has a maximum theoretical (no friction, gasses behave like ideal gasses…) of 37%. The average today is 20%. What an unbelievable waste!!
And a modern Permanent Magnet (PM) Electric motor can push 95% with ease.
Love the topic Hank!
Jim
Sorry about the double post… The first one didn’t show up until a while after the second.. Though I had lost the first one/didn’t hit submit.