Quote:
Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard
Matt,
How can the RAV4 EV that gets ~111MPGe have a larger carbon footprint than the 25MPG ICE RAV4? That is less than 25% of the energy consumed, and the carbon from that is no more than 1/3 as much as the gasoline alone; and does not count the embedded energy to produce the gasoline. The source-to-wheels of the EV is about 1/3 of the tank-to-wheels of the gasoline.
The Leaf battery pack will probably cost ~$9,000, and maybe less in 10-12 years when you replace it. The RAV4 EV battery packs have lasted more than 150K miles -- and they are NiMH.
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I think he was talking about EVs vs. hybrids. I just went to fueleconomy.gov and compared a 2003 RAV4 EV to a 2010 Toyota Prius. Guess what the carbon footprints were? 3.8 tons/15,000 miles for
both. The EV had NO advantage. I can buy 2, 3, or 4 brand new Prius for the price of one used 2003 RAV4. If I only buy
one (actually, I did), I'm way ahead on money and my carbon footprint is the same. And, I have a brand new car, with warranty.
