Do Volt and other plug-in EV owners have any obligation to go "green"?

[marksvolt]

Well, as for working close to home, my commute is about 35 feet.

Walking to the grocery store is not easy here, but some new paths/bike trails are about to open, so that is definitely a plan (mostly because I sit so much being at a desk-bound job).

I never said that charging the Volt bothered me (in fact, I love the battery ride so much I installed a level 2 charger a couple of weeks after I got the car). I merely said that among the many specious arguments against the Volt and other EVs there was at least some truth to the concept that increased grid energy use would negate some of the "green" benefits of EVs- especially if it results in more coal being burned or the need for more nuclear energy. Once EVs become more mainstream (and I am confident that they will) this effect will be amplified.

So, it made me think about the idea of supporting "greener grid", but not so much that I am losing any sleep over it or wanting to walk or bike everywhere (I am capable of thinking of those options on my own).

I was curious to take the temperature of the forum members on the issue to see what others thought of the validity of the "greener grid" options and the general sentiment toward them.

And for those that gave a thoughtful reply, I thank you.

[Ron C]

Austin Energy has allowed their customers to buy into very specific renewable projects and lock their energy price to the project, like a West Texas wind farm. For some of the very early adopters, they are now paying less than other customers, about 20% less. By having individual customers buy into a project, the project gets funded and built.

That's a very clever approach, at least presuming they can get enough capital to fund their projects. It makes the investors feel like owners, with a very vested interest in the outcome of the effort. For people who do this for social reasons, then it makes them feel like they're doing their part - you know, think global, act local and all that. For people who do this for economic reasons, it also makes them feel like they're doing the right thing. For people who think it's all a bunch of crap, they don't have to pay for projects they think are dumb, so they feel good. When the projects work out, like the wind farm example above, rational people may reconsider their objections to such project - that doesn't mean they'll conclude that an investment is warranted, but they will reconsider objectively.

I would love that kind of option in Northern Illinois. Instead I get the inbreeding of the political class that is so prevalent here.

As for the topic of this thread, my purchase of a Volt has nothing to do with green, and it has nothing to do with spending less money - this is all about OPEC for me. No gas = No OPEC. My cost per mile is high right now because of amortization costs of the car, not because of the operating expenses. I will say the low operating cost is definitely a benefit, but my principal itch has been scratched.

[marksvolt]

Yes, I meant to post earlier that I like the "funding" idea too- thanks for mentioning that. I had no idea it even existed in the US. Perhaps it will catch on elsewhere!

As I posted earlier (2nd post on this thread, I think), my chief reason for going with the Volt was to avoid gas as much as possible- OPEC & Big Oil- and that itch has certainly been scratched here too.

[montgom626]

So, it made me think about the idea of supporting "greener grid", but not so much that I am losing any sleep over it or wanting to walk or bike everywhere (I am capable of thinking of those options on my own).

Good for you. Don't lose any sleep.

[Hoonose]

If no one mentioned it, don't forget that it takes electricity to get gasoline in your tank. From exploration to extraction, pumping, transferring and refining. And more pumping and delivering and selling. I've seen all sorts of numbers from 1-10 KWHr per gallon.

Residential solar as a distributed energy source of course obviates much of this.
Including the jobs!
Currently I have about 10KW of solar on my AZ roof, and plan more panels when I get me an EV!