I'd like to add my two cents' worth on the new electric cars. While
I realize they have their faults (limited performance and range being
the two biggest), they would be ideal for a second or third car, to
be used as a commuter vehicle. Even though they are not truly "zero
emissions", it is much more efficient to produce the energy upstream
at the power plant, than in thousands of individual internal
combustion engines. Also, where many people are driving around with
poorly-maintained, gross polluters, this would not be a problem with
electric cars, because all of the emissions would take place at the power
plant,
which would have stricter, more enforceable maintenance rules than any one
individual
car.
Someone has made the claim that electric cars will produce MORE
pollution, at least in the lead department, than a car burning leaded
fuel. I'd be curious how, since lead-acid batteries don't gas off
lead, and lead recycling from lead-acid batteries is one of the
oldest and most successful recycling programs in existence. Many of
these cars don't even use lead-acid batteries at all.
Lastly, don't forget that there is one case where an electric
car IS zero-emissions-- Stopped in traffic. No internal combustion
car can say this. I don't advocate the removal of gas-burning cars,
but it's time to realize that an alternative is needed, and for the
commuter, electric cars are the best we have so far.
Scott Gardner
gardner@lwcomm.com
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