ENERGY USE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES

The overall energy efficiency of future electric vehicles would at best be competitive with that of future conventional vehicles, if petroleum were to be the basic source of both gasoline and electricity. If both gasoline and electricity were to be produced solely from coal, however, about 40% less would be used for electric vehicles because of the relatively low efficiency with which synthetic gasoline can be produced from coal. Projections of fuel use by US electric utilities indicate that even for total electrification of light-duty vehicles, less than 25% of recharge power would be generated from oil in the 1990's. In many areas of the country, little or no petroleum would be used to generate recharge power. Thus the potential for petroleum conservation through vehicular electrification is immense. (ERA citation 06:027345)

• Corporate Authors:

  General Research Corporation

  P.O. Box 3587
  Santa Barbara, CA  United States  93105

  Department of Energy

  1000 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20585
• Authors:
  • Hamilton, W
• Publication Date: 1979-9

Media Info

• Pagination: 20 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Automobiles; Coal; Coal liquids; Electric power generation; Electric utilities; Electric vehicles; Energy; Energy conservation; Fossil fuels; Fuel consumption; Fuel substitution; Gasoline; Internal combustion engines; Motor fuels; Petroleum; Synthetic fuels
• Uncontrolled Terms: Comparative analysis; Energy efficiency
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Old TRIS Terms: Recharge
• Subject Areas: Energy; Environment; Geotechnology; Highways; Vehicles and Equipment; I96: Vehicle Operating Costs;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00344702
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOE/CS/51180-T3
• Contract Numbers: AC03-76CS 51180
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 22 1982 12:00AM