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Electric cars, like all cars, require energy in order to operate. In a conventional car, the energy is extracted from chemical potential energy in the hydrocarbon molecules of gasoline. In an electric car the energy is extracted from chemical potential energy stored in batteries. Once the energy stored within the car's battery system is depleted it must be recharged using electricity supplied by the local electrical utility company. |
A typical electric car such as GM's EV-1 uses about 20kWh of energy to drive 100km. The energy to do this must be stored in the car's batteries (which are usually re-charged each night in the owner's garage).
If we assume that the energy storage and energy recovery process is approximately 80% efficient we can determine the amount of carbon dioxide which will be produced at a power generation station to create the electricity used in operating an electric car.
