@Cycloptichorn,
Cycloptichorn wrote:
At the end of the day, no matter what you guys contend, it is a proven fact that electric engines are far more efficient than internal combustion engines. This isn't even a matter of debate. You are trying to play a cute game of saying that it's more pollution-generating to make the electricity and transmit it to the car, than it is to pump oil out of the ground in Saudi Arabia, ship it to the US, refine it, ship it to your gas station, and then put it in the car. But that's ridiculous on it's face. I've shown you several different ways that this argument is incorrect.
Cycloptichorn
Despite your repeated protests, you have not done this. Whatever standards of accounting you apply for energy losses and or pollution in the fuel/energy cycle for a vehicle with an internal combustion engine, must also be applied to the process by which the electrical energy (fuel) for your postulated electrically powered vehicle. Today about 70% of our electrical energy is generated by burning either coal or natural gas. If, for purposes of discussion you imagine that the electrical power is generated in a modern gas fired plant, then recognize the following transformations that occur in the process;
1. Stored chemical energy in the fuel is converted to mechanical energy in the gas turbine,
2. The mechanical energy is converted to electrical energy in the generator.
3. The electrical energy is converted into mechanical energy in the vehicle through its motor.
Now imagine a vehicle with an IC engine powered bu compressed natural gas. Both involve essentially the same fuel cycle for extracting and delivering the gas fuel.
1. Stored chemical energy in the fuel is converted to mechanical energy by the IC engine. That's it. Done ! No more losses.
The extra energy conversions in the electrical power chain involve significant losses that simply don't occur with the IC engine.