JRP3 said:
I don't have a direct link but if you look up CO2 for coal power and figure the kwh/mile used and compare it to the CO2 for gasoline and use the mpg for the Prius the Prius comes out slightly better.
This is incorrect, as you are not doing a full "well to wheels" CO2 footprint for the Gasoline used in the Prius, only what CO2 comes out the tailpipe.
Pumping, refinement, and distribution of petroleum has a significant CO2 (and energy) footprint. In particular, the single largest industrial user of electricity in both California and in the US as a whole is the Petroleum industry. These figures are freely available on the DOE website.
In addition, it is estimated that for each gallon of gasoline that makes it into your tank, there is about 10kWh of electricity used throughout the Petroleum chain. Now, a variable portion of that power comes from local co-generation operations at refineries, most all of which are high CO2 footprint operations.
I recently took a trip to Alaska, including a drive up the Dalton highway which follows the pipeline all the way from Anchorage in the south to Prudhoe Bay in the north. It's impressive! You also notice that for every 50 miles or so of pipeline, there is a pumping station. Next to each one is a large electrical substation. Now, the figures say that more electrical energy is used in refinery operations than in distribution, but still it's a big slap in the face to see how much power just that pipeline consumes.
But the basic fact remains, at least for Gasoline, that for each gallon consumed, you could have powered your Leaf about 40 miles. (assuming 250wH / Mile)
Diesel needs less refinery energy per gallon, so it's footprint is a lot better.
No where does that 10kWh per gallon of gas come from?!? In some places; COAL. A large chunk is by burning off flare gas and methane at the refinery, both of which produce a lot of CO2. A lot more than using coal to directly power your EV!
-Phil
