We’ve all seen the naysayers claiming that EVs are going to overload the grid. If we look at the numbers we can see that’s not likely.
Emissions from EVs – usafacts.org
EVs are rated by MPGe.
- Miles Per Gallon Equivalent.
- A gallon of gas contains 33.7 kWh of energy.
- MPGe states the miles an EV can go on 33.7 kWh of energy.
- MPGe averages 120, but varies from 90-150
- EVs get the equivalent of 90-150 mpg.
1 kWh equals
- The energy from 1.12 lb. of coal Link to citation
- 2.3 lb of CO2 from burning coal
- 1,000 watts X 1 hour
- 0.89 miles @ 30 mpg
- 3.5 miles in an EV @ 120 MPGe
4 kWh equals
- The energy used to drill, frack, extract, refine, transport and pump 1 gallon of gas into a car.
- 3.5 miles @ 30 mpg
- 14 miles in an EV @ 120 MPGe
33.7 kWh of energy equals
- The energy from 38 lbs. of coal
- The energy in a gallon of gas30 miles at 30 mpg
- 118 miles in an EV @ 120 MPGe
80 kWh of energy equals
280 miles in an EV @ 120 MPGe
674 kWh of energy equals
- The energy from 755 lbs. of coal
- The energy in 20 gallons of gasoline
- 600 miles in a gas car at 30 mpg.
- 2,360 miles in an EV @ 120 MPGe
754 kWh of energy equals
- The energy from 845 lbs. of coal
- The energy to produce 20 gallons of gas and drive 600 miles at 30 mpg
- 3,016 miles in an EV @ 137 MPGe
900 kWh of energy equals
- The energy from 1,008 lbs. of coal
- The average monthly electrical usage of a US home.
- 3,150 miles in an EV
1,000 kWh of energy equals
- 1 Megawatt
- 1,120 lbs. of coal
- 3,500 miles in an EV @ 120 MPGe
- 890 miles in a gas car @ 30 mpg.
Fuel cost per 1,000 miles
- An EV uses 285 kWh per 1,000 miles @ 120 MPGe.
- At the national average of 13¢ per kWh, 1,000 miles = $37.05
- 280 lbs. of coal per 1,000 miles
- A gas car @ 30 mpg burns 33.3 gallons per 1,000 miles.
- At $5 per gallon = $167
- 1,257 lbs. of coal per 1,000 miles
Charging
- Every day, 160,00 gas stations in the US consume massive amounts of energy.
- EV charging stations don’t have buildings or people, and use energy only while charging a car.
- EV charging takes 20-30 minutes at charging stations.
- You can fully charge an EV overnight at home.
- Solar and wind farms, as well as rooftop solar, generate no greenhouse gases.
- Increasing the efficiency of one power plant improves the efficiency of all EVs on its grid.
- Converting a coal plant to natural gas reduces the emissions for every EV charging on its grid.
Emissions
- You cannot make your own gas.
- You can charge an EV with rooftop solar panels.
- EV’s are emission free after electricity leaves the power plant.
- ICE cars emit greenhouse gases everywhere they go.
- Methane is a potent GHG. Petroleum refineries release huge amounts of it into the atmosphere.
- Drilling for oil creates ocean spills, explosions on offshore oil rigs, and on tanker trains and pipelines near populated areas.
- In one EVs entire service life, from mining materials, building, charging, and driving,
an EV generates 6X less emissions than ICE. - Emission free EVs improve the air quality in city centers and high traffic areas.