Reply #46: A GAO study concluded much the same thing. for PHEVs to achieve full potential requires producing

[JohnWxy]

electricity from clean sources.

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09493.pdf


For plug-ins to realize their full potential, electricity would need to be generated from lower-emission fuels such as nuclear and renewable energy rather than the fossil fuels—coal and natural gas—used most often to generate electricity today.

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(pg 9)

The adoption of plug-ins could result in several benefits by reducing petroleum consumption, such as reduced emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants. However, the environmental benefits depend on whether the electricity used to power plug-ins emits fewer greenhouse gases and pollutants than the fuel it replaces, as well as on consumers adopting plug-ins, who may be deterred if plug-ins are not cost-effective. The cost-effectiveness of plug-ins will be determined by the cost of batteries and trends in the price of gasoline relative to the price of electricity to charge the vehicles.

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and getting off coal won't be easy and will take time. Replacing coal with wind power, probably the quickest (and safe) way it can be done will take decades. We may be able to replace 10% of coal with wind power in 20 years. It's possible to do better like maybe 15% but I don't see people getting behind it enough to pull that off.