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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