Monday, February 25, 2008

Another one for the DUH files

The expected introduction of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles could cut gasoline use but could increase deadly air pollution in some areas, two reports say. That's because a plug-in's lower tailpipe emissions may be offset by smokestack emissions from the utility generating plants supplying electricity to recharge the big batteries that allow plug-ins to run up to 40 miles without kicking on their gasoline engines.

I don't understand why this would be a big surprise to folks. Anybody who stayed awake in high school physics grasps this idea. Using electricity instead of gasoline is not a free ride. That power is still produced somewhere. And the laws of thermodynamics tells us that will produce emissions, unless we use nuclear power and that brings a whole other price tag with it (not that the green freaks want us using nuclear power anyway).

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