Tesla Motors Model S to Use Mercedes-Benz Parts

[Marcus Yam]

Could this one day mean a Tesla Roadster AMG? We hope so!

Tesla Motors Model S to Use Mercedes-Benz Parts : Read more

 

[fulle]

People think, "yay, electric cars are clean and better for the environment"... but, most of the electricity we have comes from coal power plants, so not only does it defeat the purpose, but they probably are even worse for the environment.

 

[A Stoner]

I concure with fulle.

 

[squatchman]

Not to mention that the additional cost of the vehicle offsets the savings in fuel by a wide margin still.

 

[fuser]

Power from power plants -- even the ones powered by coal -- is much more efficient and clean than power from an ICE.

The added benefit to an electric vehicle is that it becomes cleaner as the power grid becomes cleaner. A vehicle with an ICE only gets worse after it's purchased.

 

[eddieroolz]

[citation][nom]fulle[/nom]People think, "yay, electric cars are clean and better for the environment"... but, most of the electricity we have comes from coal power plants, so not only does it defeat the purpose, but they probably are even worse for the environment.[/citation]

I guess electric cars would only make sense in countries which produce their electricity from green sources, such as Denmark, Canada, Norway and Sweden to name a few.

I personally would see a market for Tesla in British Columbia, as our electricity is generated from hydro dams, hence the excessively low rates.

 

[fpoama]

I would rather take new electric vehicles today, so later down the road they can deal with the fact that electricity is still coming from coal power plants. Just think about powering your electric car and your home from solar panels on your roof.

 

[Guest]

Taking into account 100% coal fire generated electricity, powerline powerloss of up to 500 miles, extra weight of batteries on board, electric cars still produce less co2 emissions. Although particle emissions from coal plants are often times worse for our health then co2, it does provide for global cooling. Its not in any sense a good trade off. If you factor in renewable energy, non toxic batteries with easy to find minerals like nizn(nickle zinc) then electricity becomes the best option for alternative fuels. Electric cars won't transport you from new york to LA, but planes/electric trains supported by local mass transit will do Just as good of a Job as a car and come ahead cleaner.

 

[IronRyan21]

[citation][nom]fulle[/nom]People think, "yay, electric cars are clean and better for the environment"... but, most of the electricity we have comes from coal power plants, so not only does it defeat the purpose, but they probably are even worse for the environment.[/citation]

As long as we (Americans) feel better about ourselves, its ok. LOL

 

[jmchien]

If you do the math (Life Cycle Assessment), electricity from coal/gas is still cleaner than ICE (for EVs)

 

[zerapio]

[citation][nom]fulle[/nom]People think, "yay, electric cars are clean and better for the environment"... but, most of the electricity we have comes from coal power plants, so not only does it defeat the purpose, but they probably are even worse for the environment.[/citation]
Did you know that power plants don't shut off at night when we use very little electricity? There was a study made which showed that this wasted power was enough to support a something like 70% conversion of all vehicles* to electric. What this means is that with NO additional burning of coal or infrastructure investment you could eliminate the emissions from ~70% of the vehicles. That's HUGE!!!

 

[The Schnoz]

It's about time a major car company invested in Tesla, too bad it's a German one though. I was hoping an American car company would have done the same, or that the U.S. government would have given Tesla money while they were handing out billions of tax payer dollars to GM and Chrysler. How is it that a supposedly "green" president gives billions to the Hummer/SUV gas guzzling car companies and not a single cent to an all electric, progressive, innovative company such as Tesla. I say let the giant car companies fall and give funding to those that deserve it, like Tesla.

 

[icebain]

[citation][nom]zerapio[/nom]Did you know that power plants don't shut off at night when we use very little electricity? There was a study made which showed that this wasted power was enough to support a something like 70% conversion of all vehicles* to electric. What this means is that with NO additional burning of coal or infrastructure investment you could eliminate the emissions from ~70% of the vehicles. That's HUGE!!![/citation]

Well, there are plants that supply a base load, and on-demand plants (natural gas among others) that turn on and off based on loading. Nuclear and coal are base plants that run continuously at 100%, so that at night, the on-demand plants can shut down. The 70% figure comes from ALL plants operating at 100% continuously.

 

[anamaniac]

Yay.

Now make electric cars cheaper...
And make better batteries...

The Tesla is a sexy car; cleaner AND sexier cars make the world a better place.

The big key it would seem is that more investing is required by world for proper electric transportation.
(How about a maglev train inside a vacuum tunnel for long distances? Reduce the only limiting factor: air resistance.)
And more investing is needed for sustainable energy sources.
(Solar is my favorite, especially with a recent breakthrough utilizing a crystal formation found in butterfly wings. Plus the first solar panel made by I believe IBM over 50 years ago is still running, so they last with very little upkeep.)

 

[mavroxur]

[citation][nom]fulle[/nom]People think, "yay, electric cars are clean and better for the environment"... but, most of the electricity we have comes from coal power plants, so not only does it defeat the purpose, but they probably are even worse for the environment.[/citation]


You're right, coal is dirty. However, it's a LOT more efficent and clean per KW than the small internal combustion engine in your car. When the world moves to cleaner energy production, then electric cars will be even more beneficial.

 

[zerapio]

[citation][nom]icebain[/nom]Well, there are plants that supply a base load, and on-demand plants (natural gas among others) that turn on and off based on loading. Nuclear and coal are base plants that run continuously at 100%, so that at night, the on-demand plants can shut down. The 70% figure comes from ALL plants operating at 100% continuously.[/citation]
Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Guest]

Well, Fulle, since electric cars are powered by coal, let's just keep driving gas-powered SUVs until the gasoline runs out in about 20-30 years, then we can revert back to horses and bicycles...

 

[Guest]

I honestly can say that I love tom's hardware because with every article comes with a plethora of valuable comments with a relatively small margin of people saying worthless things.

 

[firemage]

So now Daimler comes to kill another company.

Within 2 years Ford will have at least 2 full electric autos, a cargo van early next year and the electric Focus for the 2011 model year. Said focus will be built at the old Wayne Truck plant here in michigan that once built some of Ford's largest SUVs.

But really EVs are just a pit stop on our way to not fuel cells but Hydrogen Combustion Engines.

-Gabe, from the shadow of the glass palace

 

[scook9]

Internal combustion engines are horribly inefficient and very expensive to maintain. They only transfer about one fourth of the energy in gasoline into vehicle motion.

Watch the documentary called "Who Killed the Electric Car". It is very enlightening on the topic. And oh ya, electric vehicles are nothing new, they came, were proved to good, and were killed. Covered in said documentary, it is very insightful.