Isn charging from the wall just displacing the pollution to the power plant?
Yes. However, the pollution generated by the utility’s power plant is considerably less than the pollution generated by a gasoline engine. Therefore, you will be polluting the atmosphere less by utilizing the electric capacity of your vehicle. In the US, power plants typically are powered by coal, hydro energy, nuclear energy, and natural gas. Their pollution levels range from worst for coal, to none for hydro. Yet, even a coal fired plant is more efficient and less polluting (per mile driven) than a gasoline engine: it is easier and cheaper to control pollution in a single, large plant, than in many, small car engines. And, the Prius is so much more efficient that a standard car. So, when you look “from well to wheel”, a mile driven electrically is far cleaner than a mile driven with gasoline. Of course, if your electricity is from solar or hydro, then you are much closer to driving pollution-free.
Related Questions
- Aren so-called "Zero Emission Vehicles" really just "Elsewhere Emission Vehicles" that move pollution from the tailpipe to a power plant somewhere?
- Is it possible to cut power plant pollution and still have enough electricity?
- Isn charging from the wall just displacing the pollution to the power plant?
