Governor ‘Science’ Gavin Newsom issued yet another executive order, this time requiring sales of all new passenger vehicles to be zero-emission (electric) by 2035 and “additional measures to eliminate harmful emissions from the transportation sector.”
The Governor’s writ also addresses “closure and remediation of former oil extraction sites.”(Closing the oil industry). Please note that Venezuelans with oil reserves just behind the US in size have returned to reliable donkeys for transport since the wait for gasoline is too long.
Mad Newsom announced Wednesday he will aggressively move the state further away from its reliance on “climate change-causing” fossil fuels. Newsom is also expected to end the use of natural gas and propane appliances.
All the while, California has been unable to keep the electric grid functioning during heat waves, as much of the state’s power grid is up to 100 years old. Will we use gasoline generators to power electric cars during brown outs or do we borrow a burro?
The idea that electric cars powered by renewables will curb global warming is a myth.
The argument goes like this. Regular cars run on gasoline, a fossil fuel that’s pumps CO2 straight out of the tail pipe into the atmosphere. Electric cars run on electricity and don’t burn gasoline. No gas, no CO2. In fact, electric cars are often advertised as creating zero emissions. It’s a miracle!
“For reals?” as my gang-banger friends would ask. No, keep reading.
First, there’s the energy needed to produce the car. More than a third of the lifetime emissions of an electric car are the emissions produced to make the car itself, especially the battery. The mining of lithium used for batteries is not a green activity! Google lithium mining.
When an electric car is made it has already created more than 25,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide emissions. The amount generated to build a conventional car is 16,000 lbs.
However, that’s not the end of the electric car emissions story. Electric cars don’t run on gasoline but they do consume electricity. And in the US, electricity is often produced by another fossil fuel, coal.
As green venture capitalist Vinod Khosla notes, “Electric cars are coal powered cars.”
The Nissan Leaf over a 90,000 mile lifetime will emit 31 metric tons of CO2 based on emission from its production, electricity consumption and its ultimate scrapping.
A gas-powered Mercedes CDI A160 over a comparable lifetime emits just 3 tons more from its production, operation and scrapping. Figures are similar for the top-line Tesla. It emits about 44 tons, which is just 5 tons less than a similar gas - Audi A7 Quattro.
So, throughout the lifetime of an electric car it will emit just 3-5 tons less CO2 versus gas autos. In the European Trading System it costs $7 (carbon futures market) to offset one ton of CO2. So the entire climate benefit of an electric car is worth $35 (5 tons carbon X $7).
Yet, the US Government gives electric car buyers a subsidy of up to $7,500. The government paying $7,500 for something it could get for $35 is considered a bad deal in private business. And this does not consider the billions in federal grants, loans and tax write-offs given to battery and car makers.
The other touted benefit of electric cars is lower pollution, but remember much of the electricity comes from coal. The National Academy of Science found that coal-generated electricity for vehicles pollutes much more than gasoline produced for autos.
How much more? Again, the research showed that if the US had 10% more gas-powered cars in 2020, then 870 more people will die each year from pollution. If the US had 10% more electric cars in 2020 using our electricity blend then 1617 more people will die each year.
What about the electricity from renewables, wind and solar? Don’t they create electricity without CO2? Won’t the future fuels and cars be much cleaner?
No, and the US today gets only 14% of its electric power from renewables. In 2040, the Energy Information Administration estimates an increase to just 17%. Meanwhile fossil fuels that generate 65% of our electricity today will be creating 64% in 2040.
The facts show that though electric car owners may feel like they are saving the world, the cars cut little CO2, cost taxpayers a fortune and generate more air pollution than traditional cars.
Those planning to be around for 2035 may need a burro for back-up.
(Get Lou’s podcast at “No Hostages Radio” and his articles at nohostagesradio.com)
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