Wired article claims that EV's use more oil than gas cars...

[Fulgerite]

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2012/07/green-illusion/

I have a few issues with this article. But it's well written.

[Neromanceres]

This doesn't appear to be Wired claiming this. They are only discussing the book that does.

On top of what is discussed in this article people seem to ignore that most cars are made with recycled materials. Which use less energy than direct from the mine.

[mikeg3]

This book illustrates the problem with justifying EVs based on pollution. Most sources of electricity have green issues. All heavy manufacturing uses lots of power. Even wind power kills birds and blocks the view from Cape Cod. So sad.

One thing electricity seldom does any more is use petroleum and support world oil prices.

Oil Money - the most dangerous toxic waste.

Drive a Volt - starve a terrorist today.

[tangentlin]

While people can go all days debating total system efficiency and environmental impacts of EV vs. ICE, I see electricity as the staple of energy as it can be generated from variety of sources -- wind, hydro, chemical, nuclear, etc., in other words, even on a hot day, the car can be recharged through heat and sun. That's something fossil fuel cannot.

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

While people can go all days debating total system efficiency and environmental impacts of EV vs. ICE, I see electricity as the staple of energy as it can be generated from variety of sources -- wind, hydro, chemical, nuclear, etc., in other words, even on a hot day, the car can be recharged through heat and sun. That's something fossil fuel cannot.

Fungible, indeed. As a bonus you get home refueling.

[jeffhre]

From Wired - "To prove this, Zehner, a visiting scholar at UC Berkeley, points to what he views as the fuel-inefficient process of manufacturing EVs, and claims that they don’t make a big difference in greenhouse-gas emissions. He also contends that electric cars won’t protect the U.S. against future oil price fluctuations, as many claim, and that it’s a fallacy that prices for EVs will fall as the technology matures. He also maligns tax subsidies and government spending that support EV production as misguided."

In other words he gets none of these claims correct.

[notaguru]

It appears that the author began with a marketable premise, then searched for data to substantiate it, then wrote a book to satisfy his eager market.

[DonC]

It appears that the author began with a marketable premise, then searched for data to substantiate it, then wrote a book to satisfy his eager market.

+1 That about sums it up.

[baragona]

It appears that the author began with a marketable premise, then searched for data to substantiate it, then wrote a book to satisfy his eager market.

That's the Republican way.... Have a preconceived opinion, find any data you can that supports that opinion, and ignore all data that is contrary to that opinion.

There are hundreds of studies that do not support this opinion. The author ignored each and every one until he found that one study that supports his view of the world...

[Koz]

That's the Republican way.... Have a preconceived opinion, find any data you can that supports that opinion, and ignore all data that is contrary to that opinion.

There are hundreds of studies that do not support this opinion. The author ignored each and every one until he found that one study that supports his view of the world...

You mean, that is the human way. Republicans don't deserve sole credit for this. Even today's journalists are often guilty of this.