Fueling a car on gasoline made from coal (Coal-To-Liquids or CTL) emits twice as much greenhouse gas as gasoline from crude oil. Why is fueling a PHEV from coal electricity better than gasoline?
Two reasons: (1) Electric motors are extremely efficient compared to internal combustion engines, and this efficiency more than compensates for the dirtiness of coal. (2) The U.S. grid is only 49% coal (natural gas is 20%, nuclear is 20%, hydro is 7%, and other renewables are 2.4%). Thus power to charge PHEVs is not all from coal, and some is from zero emission sources.
Related Questions
- Fueling a car on gasoline made from coal (Coal-To-Liquids or CTL) emits twice as much greenhouse gas as gasoline from crude oil. Why is fueling a PHEV from coal electricity better than gasoline?
- I have read that fueling a car with ethanol instead of regular gasoline emits fewer CO2 emissions. Which cars can use it and where can I get it in the Denver Metro area?
- Who has fewer emissions of greenhouse gases per mile, or a gas (not biodiesel) diesel car?
