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Bio-Safer Housing's avatar

Doesn't it seem the *most* desirable ICE is the one that is long-lived and repairable? So many cars are nearly irreparable because whole (expensive) modules need to be replaced instead of a mechanics ministrations. So, even modern ICEs with their over-reliance on gadgetry (and the planned obsolescence inherent in electronica) are a horror show. Why can't we just have cars from the year 2000, with some hypermiling tech sprinkled in?

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Michael Magoon's avatar

Great article. Your calculations regarding the carbon consequences of Norwegian electric cars are quite enlightening. As long as car batteries are largely manufactured using Chinese coal, it is difficult to call Electric vehicles “Green.”

A small quibble with your assumption: “Burning natural gas (high entropy) to generate electricity (low entropy) is only 40-50% efficient.” The latest CCGT plants offer efficiencies of 64+%. This would substantially lower the disadvantage of EVs, and potentially entirely make up the gap.

https://www.gevernova.com/gas-power/products/gas-turbines/h-class-gas-turbines

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