If you do not learn from history, you are doomed to repeat it. Looking back over the last 120 years, one can see many false starts for the electric car industry. Some of the very first horseless carriages were electric vehicles, and automakers have been teasing us with images of a future propelled by electric cars even during the muscle car movement. The closest we ever came was the EV1 program, which fizzled and failed after a few years. So how do we make sure that this time it sticks?
The energy policy committee at last week’s SAE World Congress mulled over this issue. Their conclusion is that electric vehicles still need significant support before they can stand on their own merits, or the switch from gas to electric vehicles could stall before it ever really gets started.
The SAE, or Society of Automotive Engineers, are the guys and gals who determine everything from horsepower ratings to electric plug standards. In general they are a very, very smart group of people. Their concern with the electric car movement is that it could stall out after 2016. That is when Federal mandates mature and force automakers to meet a fleet-wide fuel efficiency of 35 mpg. There are many ways they can do this, from building lots of small, fuel-efficient cars to smaller percentages of plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles. The new mandates are the result of an “uneasy alliance” between the California Air Resource Board and the Federal Government.
CARB has had higher emissions standards for a long time now, and over a dozen states have adopted their standards as well. Before the Feds and CARB started working together, automakers were envisioning a future where theywould have to build to different standards of cars to sell in different states, driving up costs. But now with the national unified standard through 2016 everything seems to be at peace between the regulators and the regulated in the automotive world.
But beyond 2016, these two entities need to keep working together to bring fuel economy standards ever higher and promote electric cars. The SAE recommended, among other things, more money towards advancing electric car technology and eventually a higher gas tax. We also need infrastructure to make electric cars convenient and accessible. This includes charging or battery swap stations, better public transportation, a smart grid and better thought out roads. This is all going to cost lots and lots of money, and the effects won’t be immediately evident. But we’ve got to stick with it..
One of the adverse impacts of alternative fuels was also discussed at the conference. It takes two to three times the amount of water to produce electricity to equivalent to the energy found in gasoline. Biofuels can account for 1,000 times more water than gasoline. Clean, fresh water is in dwindling supply worldwide. Could we one day see a water consumption tax in place of a gas tax down the road, when fewer cars (hopefully) run on petrol?
Source: Wards Auto | Image: GM
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About Christopher DeMorro
Chris,
Good point about water demand. This issue is so important that in 2007 the U.S. Department of Energy had three workshops in different parts of the country to discuss conflicts between energy development and water use. I attended the one in Salt Lake City. However, the discussion on biofuels was overshadowed by the discussion on ‘wastewater’ resulting from coal bed methane drilling. Most people I met at the workshop weren’t cognizant of biofuel and electricity water demands. All things considered, many places WILL have water taxes by the year 2025. Count on it.
Chris,
Good point about water demand. This issue is so important that in 2007 the U.S. Department of Energy had three workshops in different parts of the country to discuss conflicts between energy development and water use. I attended the one in Salt Lake City. However, the discussion on biofuels was overshadowed by the discussion on ‘wastewater’ resulting from coal bed methane drilling. Most people I met at the workshop weren’t cognizant of biofuel and electricity water demands. All things considered, many places WILL have water taxes by the year 2025. Count on it.
Most (non-waste based) biofuels do consume a lot of water, among other problems, and are unsustainable for many other reasons.
On the other hand, other renewable energies consume a lot less water and can be optimized to consume less water.
Solar-power usually requires water to regularly clean solar panels or reflectors to stay at the highest efficiencies. This can be optimized in several ways:
- tuning the compromise water use / efficiency
- relying on more mechanical, using less water, technologies.
All thermal power plants (fossil-fuel, nuclear, or solar) require water at the condenser. This can be optimized by increasing the surface of the condenser at higher capital expenditure costs. Water taxes would make these additional capital expenditures financially sound.
Photovoltaic plants do not require a condenser and therefore do not suffer from this problem. These consume less water than all thermal power plants.
Wind-power requires little, if any, water to operate.
Most (non-waste based) biofuels do consume a lot of water, among other problems, and are unsustainable for many other reasons.
On the other hand, other renewable energies consume a lot less water and can be optimized to consume less water.
Solar-power usually requires water to regularly clean solar panels or reflectors to stay at the highest efficiencies. This can be optimized in several ways:
- tuning the compromise water use / efficiency
- relying on more mechanical, using less water, technologies.
All thermal power plants (fossil-fuel, nuclear, or solar) require water at the condenser. This can be optimized by increasing the surface of the condenser at higher capital expenditure costs. Water taxes would make these additional capital expenditures financially sound.
Photovoltaic plants do not require a condenser and therefore do not suffer from this problem. These consume less water than all thermal power plants.
Wind-power requires little, if any, water to operate.
The main financial problem with EV has always been and remains battery cost per mile of range.
The following strategies could/will eventually alleviate this problem:
- Investment in lower cost battery technologies, this will take some time obviously,
- Recharging infrastructure requiring less range, and that can be done with existing battery technologies, such as:
* battery swapping mandate in all gas stations, this also requires some for of standardization of battery containers,
* additional range battery rentals for vacations,
* public and private parking recharging stations, possibly for free,
* Power highway lanes, allowing to recharge an EV, possibly for free, while driving, these could be on carpool / EV lanes for higher incentive,
- And of course unpopular higher gas taxes which would not necessary benefit only EV but also improved mileage gasoline engines which will also be more expensive,
- Waiting for worldwide energy demand to rise while production falls, this could be very soon but the cost of waiting could be a temporary economic slowdown,
Most of these solutions require large investments, directly creating many ‘green’ jobs. The ROI case comes with less imported fossil fuel and lower health bills.
The main financial problem with EV has always been and remains battery cost per mile of range.
The following strategies could/will eventually alleviate this problem:
- Investment in lower cost battery technologies, this will take some time obviously,
- Recharging infrastructure requiring less range, and that can be done with existing battery technologies, such as:
* battery swapping mandate in all gas stations, this also requires some for of standardization of battery containers,
* additional range battery rentals for vacations,
* public and private parking recharging stations, possibly for free,
* Power highway lanes, allowing to recharge an EV, possibly for free, while driving, these could be on carpool / EV lanes for higher incentive,
- And of course unpopular higher gas taxes which would not necessary benefit only EV but also improved mileage gasoline engines which will also be more expensive,
- Waiting for worldwide energy demand to rise while production falls, this could be very soon but the cost of waiting could be a temporary economic slowdown,
Most of these solutions require large investments, directly creating many ‘green’ jobs. The ROI case comes with less imported fossil fuel and lower health bills.
What if a company doesn’t make the rule? A fine, a slap on the hands? Close the company? Jail the CEO?
I haven’t seen the teeth in the rule.
What if a company doesn’t make the rule? A fine, a slap on the hands? Close the company? Jail the CEO?
I haven’t seen the teeth in the rule.