How Green Is My Ride?

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/15/automobiles/how-green-are-electric-cars-depends-on-where-you-plug-in.html?_r=1&ref=business#

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"To accept good advice is but to increase one's own ability." (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)

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According to a report to be released by the Union of Concerned Scientists this coming Monday, there is a considerable difference in the amount of greenhouse gases - primarily carbon dioxide - that result from charging a car's battery packs. The group's report titled "State of Charge: Electric Vehicles' Global Warming Emissions and Fuel Cost Savings Across the United States," uses the electric power requirements of the Nissan Leaf as a basis for comparison. The Leaf, on sale in the U.S. for more than a year and the most widely available electric model from a major automaker, sets a logical baseline (Carlos Ghosn, the CEO of Renault-Nissan would be happy to hear that!).

Comparing identical trips in distance, a California "Leaf" would significantly outperform a Colorado Leaf. The hypothetical Los Angeles Leaf would be accountable for the release of an admirably low level of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, about the same as a gasoline car getting 79 miles per gallon. The Colorado (Denver) Leaf would cause as large a load of greenhouse gases to enter the atmosphere as some versions of the gasoline-powered Mazda 3, a compact sedan rated at 33 mpg (EPA combined).

The California car: exceptional! The regional mix of coal-dependent power plants around Denver diminish the Colorado Leaf's benefits.

The U.C.S. report, which takes into account the full cycle of energy production (called a well-to-wheels analysis), demonstrates that in areas where the electric utility relies on natural gas, nuclear, hydroelectric or other renewable sources to power its generators, the potential for electric cars and plug-in hybrids to reduce carbon dioxide emissions is great.

In supplement to this report, the N.Y. Times has added two charts, one of which displays car comparisons and the other regional comparisons. Both charts add significantly to anyone's perspective on the situation.

Now, if the Leaf could only last longer than 100 miles before recharging!