Originally Posted by
N2264J
What Time fails to mention is that the electric vehicle is only one component of a sustainable system. If you're charging you car from solar panels on the roof, you get closer to achieving Tao. And if you've read the Tao, you begin to understand why the Chinese have been around for 8,000 years and our society probably won't last another 200.
China's New Plan for Solar Power Supremacy | ThinkProgress
Everyone was poo-pooing the Kyoto protocol a couple years ago because "if China doesn't comply why bother?" Today, China is poised to beat us in green energy manufacturing game while we wring our pitiful hands about Solyndra and double digit unemployment numbers.
We are about to be taken to school on supply and demand by the Communist Chinese. Welcome to the 21st century, pikers!
In a vehicle with an internal combustion engine, only about 15% - 20% of the energy expended gets to the wheels. In an electric vehicle, over 90% of the energy makes it
to the wheels. That is so
totally Tao.
I'd guess that the 90% is of a total number that is much smaller than the total energy produced by the ICE. That excess energy might be measured as inefficiency but it could also be measured as heat or air conditioning that does not come at large expense of range.
If you like electric cars, go for it. But I don't want one and I don't want to pay for yours.
WW