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August 15, 2005
Plug-in cars
Some researchers have build highly fuel efficient cars -- up to 250 mpg -- according to Yahoo news. Highly fuel efficient as long as you only count the fuel actually burned in the car, at least.
The cars plug in to fill up batteries with electricity, and also recoup energy as stored electricity when coasting and breaking.
But it a lot of the energy comes as electricty out of a socket, how efficient is that? Assuming 30-80% efficiency at the plant, and losses are on the order of 7.5% or more by the time it finally gets into the car, is it actually more effective to burn the fossil fuel at the plant instead of on the road?
Maybe it is, especially if that car spends lots of time immobile in traffic jams. I wonder what the actually rating for electric cars would be in mpg if you count the gallons (or cubic feet of natural gas, or tons of coal).
The most efficient is probably still my bike, but it sure takes a lot longer. And it's no fun in the rain.
Posted by Mark at August 15, 2005 03:08 PM