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You Are Not Alone: America Hates Electric Cars



Jan 14, 2012 18 Comments ›› Pat Dollard

Jalopnik:

Electric cars are terrible. They just are. They’re a solution for a problem we don’t have. Or rather, they’re a solution for a problem we aren’t about to change: our sprawling, big-ass cities filled with things we can’t afford to buy yet must haul around. (Like kids.)

Modern electric cars make about as much sense as rooftop airports. They’re fairy tickets to a more-or-less inevitable future that hasn’t actually arrived. For most of the American market, the only advantage electric cars offer over gasoline-powered vehicles is the permission to daydream about a time when their decision to drive in the first place doesn’t hurt the environment.

Even auto executives agree with me (as much as it pains me to say so): two-thirds of a couple hundred auto executives think electrics and hybrids combined won’t make a dent in the market until 2025.

My sister just bought a few acres of scrub farmland outside of Kansas City, Missouri, on which she built a yurt. Her husband commutes 40 miles each way to work downtown. They spend a lot of money on gas, but far less than it would take to make the payments on a new electric car. That’s pretty normal around those parts, as it is in all but the few densely packed coastal cities.

I was staying the week with a pal of mine in his new house in De Soto, Kansas, another theoretical suburb of Kansas City. To ride my motorcycle from my sister’s place—where we’d just taken the kids through a nearby corn maze to show my niece and nephews what it looks like when five-hundred horny teenagers paw each other in a field—back to De Soto took over an hour. And that was normal. That’s just what people in the midwest do. They drive and drive and drive.

The Nissan Leaf, one of the best—or at least more car-like—electric vehicles on the market, has a full-charge range of 73 miles. I couldn’t have made it back for dinner that night if I were in a Leaf.

Long commutes are not what an electric car is for, I’m told. But why not? The United States developed our cities around the ideas of cheap gasoline and cheap asphalt. (Still the most cost-effective road-creation system around.) If EVs like the Leaf aren’t able to be used as sole transportation for a person, then we’re selling $35,000 machines to people because as totems of a possible future, while telling them the hassle in the present is a mitzvah; drive an impractical, expensive car today and you’re setting up a better tomorrow.

Except today, right now, electric cars are bad vehicles by dint of range alone. (I’ll leave the cars-and-passion argument by the wayside for now; not every vehicle has to inspire a love of driving and sport, I suppose, although I will accept “Why not?” as a perfectly reasonable counterargument that. Another day.)

Hybrids are worse. Have you seen the fuel economy of the modern gasoline-powered small car? Ford Fiesta (A fairly fun car, by the way): 29 MPG city, 39 MPG highway. The more-or-less equally sporty (but far less roomy) Honda CR-Z? 35 MPG city, 39 MPG highway. Come on. We’re still talking about vehicles in which 100% of the power derived from fossil fuels, with only a modest increase of fuel economy.

The notorious Toyota Prius gets you up to 50MPG—but then you’re driving a Prius. A Prius that still gets all of its power from fossil fuels.

(I won’t even try to advocate for diesel-powered small cars like those wacky Europeans love. We have a diesel infrastructure here in the United States, but it’s far from ubiquitous after you leave the slabs of long-haul highways.)

You can abstract almost every discussion of energy down to raw power. And you should. There is a finite amount of condensed sunlight on this planet and a finite amount of raw materials. In 2010 the United States still made 83% of our energy from fossil fuels—much of which we burnt to generate the electricity that was sloppily sent down a creaking, inefficient power grid to fill up the batteries of our electric cars. Batteries which we made by expending more energy to pull lithium, copper, and aluminum out of the ground.

It’s not that I think electric cars are doomed forever. It’s inevitable that in another couple of decades, their range will increase as battery capacity improves. Maybe by then battery capacity will approach the astoundingly high energy density of gasoline. There’s simply too much money being poured into battery research to stop innovation. (Even if it will just as likely come from companies focusing on making a better iPad battery: car battery companies are approaching market saturation in the current economy.) Plus, if China’s any example, solar should be as cheap as coal in another five or ten years. At that point, the hazy sky’s the limit.

But today, right now, in the middle of a terrible recession and a miasmatic material hangover from decades of unchecked consumption, I can’t look someone in the eye who’s about to buy their first car and say, “Look, buy this electric vehicle. It’s not very fun. It’s not what you want. You can’t really haul anything. It’s very likely not any better for the environment. But it is very, very quiet. Especially for the hours and hours it takes to charge.”

Fortunately, it looks like Americans are smart enough I won’t have to: According to a report released today, Americans bought a grand total of just 20,000 electric vehicles in 2011. (About a third of those sold were the Chevy Volt, too, which is only fully electric for the first 40 miles.)

Non-electric vehicles? Almost 14 million.


  • AFITgrad86

    Electric cars have no theoretical energy advantage over gas or diesel.  They only make sense if you have very cheap plentiful electric power from nuclear or hydroelectric sources.  If the electrical power is derived from oil it is a net loss of efficiency to use an electric car.  Why?  Because each conversion of energy in the cycle is less than 100 percent efficient and there are more conversions in the electric car operation .. chemical (oil) to heat; heat to mechanical; mechanical to electric; … now comes line loss as its transmitted to your home … electrical to chemical; chemical to electrical; electrical to mechanical to finally drive the car.

    If you charge up a battery it gets warm.  That’s one example of the inherent loss in converting power from one form to another.  Gasoline (Otto cycle) and Diesel engines have fewer conversions and less lost energy in the process hence they are more efficient.  Since the energy is easily stored they offer greater range and flexibility.

    So unless you live in a metropolitan area, get free electricity from your landlord, only drive a few miles each way, and can get a sweetheart deal on a Government Motors subsidized electric car they make no sense.  Of course this scenario exactly applies to the Obama base doesn’t it?

    • Lone Wolf

      You are exactly right.  The effective ‘gas mileage’ of an electric car in terms of the original coal heating value (assuming the electricity is generated at a coal-fired power plant) is something like an old Chevy Impala (~15 mpg). It is even worse with nuclear because the plant runs at a lower thermodynamic efficiency (lower steam pressure and little superheat). Then consider that most of the energy available in coal is actually thrown away:
      http://www.ornl.gov/info/ornlreview/rev26-34/text/colmain.html

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Paul-Scott/1322599804 Paul Scott

      Gee, I don’t know guys. You seem to be pretty hard on the EV.

      I bought a 3 kW solar system in 2002 for about $15K out of pocket. Right after that, I bought a $30,000 Toyota RAV4 EV. For the past 8.5 years, I drove that SUV all over southern California. I drove 91,000 miles, all on sunlight-generated electricity. My PV system generated enough for the car and most of the house. My electric bill averaged a mere $100 per year for both the house and car.I sold that RAV almost a year ago after getting my new Nissan LEAF. The RAV was still driving just like new and it never needed any more work than new tires and wiper blades, and two shocks had failed. That’s it, nothing more.I’ve now driven 101,000 miles on sunshine. I pay practically nothing for energy since the solar system has now paid for itself as of last year. It will last the rest of my life.There are thousands of Americans doing this. Many are conservatives who will most likely vote for the same presidential candidate you vote for. But they understand the need to get off of oil so we don’t have to buy it from our enemies. Even if you don’t want an electric car, you should hope they are successful, because for every EV sold in your neighborhood, you’re air will be cleaner, your community wealthier, and your nation safer.

    • Sippin’ Coffee

      Kudos for you in the sunny state of California.  Most of the rest of us live in places with much less direct sunlight (and in Seattle no sunlight at all some days) so “our mileage may vary.”  Your solar panels are about to go out (lose efficiency) as they are “good” for 20 to 30 years maximum.  Not knowing your age, “for the rest of your life” isn’t good enough for an economy to change energy sources.  Bye the way: Since those aren’t natually occuring semiconductors that do the work the mining, refining and disposal of some nasty materials needs to be dealt with and the source countries are such friendly nations as China, Afghanistan, and several African nations in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jim-Wilcox/1508044264 Jim Wilcox

      Solar panels are guaranteed to last 20-25 years and still produce 80% of their original output. Beyond that, people don’t know how long they will last. How can someone crticize a product with specs like that?
      The idea that on some days when there is no sun will somehow be a problem shows and incredible lack of understanding about solar. Quick to hat. Slow to investigate. The panels feed back power on sunny days offsetting the drain for the car on other days.
      Sourcing raw materials is a challenge. If countries want to make money, they will sell them to us. Better to have a multiple of options that the wealth of the world going to build the tallest building on the planet and an indoor ski area in the desert. People want electric cars to be just the same as a gas engine car with no problems before they will buy. And I’d like my new girlfriend to be prettier, younger and smarter than my last one but just as compliant and willing to do as I wish.

      The gas car has spoiled use because we don’t pay the true cost. How many people love their cars when gas goes near $5 a gallon? Loyalty goes out the window with one’s cash.

  • AFITgrad86

    Electric cars have no theoretical energy advantage over gas or diesel.  They only make sense if you have very cheap plentiful electric power from nuclear or hydroelectric sources.  If the electrical power is derived from oil it is a net loss of efficiency to use an electric car.  Why?  Because each conversion of energy in the cycle is less than 100 percent efficient and there are more conversions in the electric car operation .. chemical (oil) to heat; heat to mechanical; mechanical to electric; … now comes line loss as its transmitted to your home … electrical to chemical; chemical to electrical; electrical to mechanical to finally drive the car.

    If you charge up a battery it gets warm.  That’s one example of the inherent loss in converting power from one form to another.  Gasoline (Otto cycle) and Diesel engines have fewer conversions and less lost energy in the process hence they are more efficient.  Since the energy is easily stored they offer greater range and flexibility.

    So unless you live in a metropolitan area, get free electricity from your landlord, only drive a few miles each way, and can get a sweetheart deal on a Government Motors subsidized electric car they make no sense.  Of course this scenario exactly applies to the Obama base doesn’t it?

  • Charlie from New Jersey

    There is nothing like the growl of my Hemi when I stand on it…. the hummm and whine of a little electric motor powered by some pathetic batteries is what you need to start a real engine.

  • wwtd

    You never here the green left talk about the environment impacts of lead, zinc, or cobalt. And no they are not a renewable resource. Never have heard them talk about the safety, health, and enviornmental impact of electric cars involved in an accident. Lead mining and recycling is all nasty stuff. Don’t think they see the whole picture, or could even recognize it. The EPA has all lead mining with the exception of one, shut down in the US.

    “The batteries for hybrid and all-electric cars are far more powerful and much larger, with some weighing up to around 250 kilograms, or 550 pounds. They also can be the car’s most expensive component, mostly because of the complexity in making them, rather than the value of the materials. Complicating the question of disposal, a large amount of energy remains stored even in partially discharged batteries. These could deliver harmful shocks and pose a serious fire hazard if mishandled”.

    http://www.nytimes.com/1995/05/09/science/lead-based-battery-used-in-electric-car-may-pose-hazards.html

  • Jeff

    This article brought to you by BP and Exxon Oil, because we love to make the Saudi Royals happy.

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  • Gator

    Let keep using oil as a main source to power our cars and
    singing “Yes Chevron loves us” as we go down the road. The 19 hi-jackers were Saudi
    and some of the financing came from the Wahbai Saudis and yet

    we went into Afghanistan and we are still there, why you
    ask? Because the Saudi are our Friends and we don’t attack out friends. Go back
    to the Arab oil boycott in the seventies, long lines for gas, rationing and theft
    and violence over the availability of gas. Well it’s coming again and this time
    you will see gas between 5.00 and 10.00 a gallon and the shit will hit the
    fan!! So keep burning gas, bury your head in the sand and knock the electric
    car and go down the road singing yes chevron loves to bend us over. It doesn’t
    take a Greenie to see the hand writing on the wall just smart not stupid blind .

  • Gator

    Let keep using oil as a main source to power our cars and
    singing “Yes Chevron loves us” as we go down the road. The 19 hi-jackers were Saudi
    and some of the financing came from the Wahbai Saudis and yet

    we went into Afghanistan and we are still there, why you
    ask? Because the Saudi are our Friends and we don’t attack out friends. Go back
    to the Arab oil boycott in the seventies, long lines for gas, rationing and theft
    and violence over the availability of gas. Well it’s coming again and this time
    you will see gas between 5.00 and 10.00 a gallon and the shit will hit the
    fan!! So keep burning gas, bury your head in the sand and knock the electric
    car and go down the road singing yes chevron loves to bend us over. It doesn’t
    take a Greenie to see the hand writing on the wall just smart not stupid blind .

  • Captain Obvious

    So, how does an electric car keep warm in the winter…  bet the range goes down drastically when the temp drops…

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/John-Briggs/1001015277 John Briggs

    You might as well make the same arguments against the bicycle for heaven’s sakes.  It is impractical, short range, can’t carry much stuff.  But low and below some people actually put them to good use. 

    Instead of asking what an EV can’t do, why don’t you ask what it can do.  For me, it can get me to and from work, even if there is another OPEC action.  Just hope your neighbor has an EV so you can catch a ride to the hospital if needed.  It is good to have “alternatives”.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/John-Briggs/1001015277 John Briggs

    You might as well make the same arguments against the bicycle for heaven’s sakes.  It is impractical, short range, can’t carry much stuff.  But low and below some people actually put them to good use. 

    Instead of asking what an EV can’t do, why don’t you ask what it can do.  For me, it can get me to and from work, even if there is another OPEC action.  Just hope your neighbor has an EV so you can catch a ride to the hospital if needed.  It is good to have “alternatives”.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/John-Briggs/1001015277 John Briggs

    First the Author tries to claim EVs are too small and can’t fit your “stuff.”  Then he tries support ICE saying that the Fiesta is great compared to the Prius.  Three problems 1) if you are a city driver, the Prius gets about twice the mpg of the Fiesta.  2) the Prius is a mid-size and the Fiesta is a subcompact (two sizes smaller). 3) if you can’t fit your stuff in an EV, you probably can fit it into a Fiesta either. Sort of shows the Author has no experience with either vehicle.

    Personally, people thought I was stupid buying a Prius in 2006.  When gasoline prices hit $4/gallon, those same people changed their opinions.  Perhaps they didn’t change their opinions enough to buy a hybrid, but they will now consider it.

    • Rex11925

      How smart is it to spend twice as much for the same size vehicle,that by the time your done paying all the extra cost of the car plus the electricity cost, the hassel of charging it would probably take ten years to even break even on fuel saving from an all gas car. Dumb. I can pay $135 month for my carolla and $80 a month for gas or i could pay $600 month for a chevy volt that i still have to pay the electricity and gas for. Maybe i will own one in about 15 years. Right now it makes no financial sense.