A Carbon-Free, Stackable Rental Car

Around MIT, and almost everywhere in the US, most electricity is produced by burning coal, which creates about 50% more CO2 per million BTU than gasoline does. Calling these carbon free is misleading.

Nicely put. And, until we achieve break-even in the overall energy production, "renewable energy" and "nuclear" create excess CO2 in the manufacture of the equipments. Electrical propulsion only becomes sensible at the point where the overall balance of CO2 production (including vehicle manufacture and the electricity generation**) becomes favourable. That may be the case in one or two countries with a large proportion of nuclear generation - but certainly not the US (or most other major energy consumers)

Fyz

**And, as the electricity generation contribution needs to include the equipment contribution due to the need to increase the generation capacity, that is probably a great deal later than most figures would indicate.

The biggest problem with Electric cars is BIG OIL. Oil is going for nearly $100 a barrel now with no end to the price increases in sight. BIG OIL is going to run the world into the dirt unless an alternative is implemented. Hybreds are no better than a bandaid on a broken leg. Hydrogen is worse than no action at all. We already have all the infrastructure in place to put electrics on the road in quantity. For short trips and daily useage use electrics,for long trips,rent a gas guzzeler or go by mass transport then rent an electric on the other end. The day of the car as we know it now are numbered,so you all might as well quit fighting it and get on the electric band wagon,or be buried in the dust.

Suitably adamant, and paranoid about big oil (I tend to agree with the latter, but other big energy may be no less bad). And the obvious is not always true. Electric cars will undoubtedly be less damaging when eventually suitable generating infrastructure is in place; but for the present I suspect hybrid diesel is the more appropriate technology in most countries.

I agree that electric cars are clearly the way to go in the future. There is little question in my view that batteries like those in the Tesla or Phoenix will fall in price long before we can overcome the myriad problems involved in generating, storing and utilizing hydrogen in a way that is efficient. Several contenders for the Automotive X Prize will no doubt be be available in two versions: full electric and plug-in hybrid. My own entry will take those forms, as will the Aptera. My guess is that the plug-in hybrid version will outsell the full electric version, because gaining unlimited range can be achieved for a relatively small price. If there were a network of fast charging stations (requiring 480 volt 400 amp service for the Phoenix) then people would not worry so much about running out of juice ten miles from home -- but it will take some time before such stations are available.