Dr. Ron Lembke MORE EFFICIENT CARS

 Hybrid: Toyota Prius, Honda Insight, Ford Fusion, Chevy Tahoe  Mainly gasoline drivetrain, some use of electric drivetrain  Plug-In Hybrid: Chevy Volt  Electric powertrain, gas backup generator  Electric Car: Nissan Leaf, Tesla Roadster  Electric powertrain, batteries only HYBRIDS VS. PLUG-INS Leaf: $35,000 Tesla: $109,000 Volt: $39,145

FUEL CELL Larry Burns

 Aka Suzuki Swift, Cultus  EPA 55/60 mpg

2011 EPA MILEAGE CHAMP TOYOTA PRIUS  MRSP $23,810

CAMRY HYBRID

GREEN SUVS? ISN’T THAT AN OXYMORON?

2011 MSRP Info from cars.com

 $0.10/kwh - May 9, 2012 submitted to Public Utilities Commission  PG&E proposed new rates for charging electric cars at night  Driving a Nissan Leaf (or similarly efficient electric car)  $1.00 gallon equivalent in a 30 mpg gasoline car ELECTRIC CARS = $1/GALLON?

 Suppose 40 miles a day = 14,600 / yr  Volt = 35kwh / 100 mi,  5,110 kwh, 0 gal. gasoline  Where does the electricity come from?  NV Energy, 0.66 kg of CO2 per kwh  3,773kg of CO2 per year  Prius  Mpg = 51 14,600 /51 = 286 gal  8.8 kg CO2 / gallon of gas  2,516 kg CO2 per year ELECTRIC = GREEN, RIGHT?

 4kw system in Reno would yield 6,135 kwh  Upfront cost $30,000  With rebates $16,000  Lease cost of $110 COST OF PV?

 If that’s correct:  Me: 18,000 miles per year  Chevy Traverse 19 mpg avg  =947 gallons of gas $4/gal = $3,789/yr  Leaf would cost me  $947 / year = $2,842 savings/yr  Can’t pull a trailer, though. $1/ GALLON?

 There are fuel-saving vehicles that save enough fuel, and come at a low enough premium, to pay back very quickly  But there are lots of vehicles that don’t  But that’s not the only reason people buy them  If:  price of gasoline goes up, and  electricity stays affordable, and  Electric cars get better range  They might get a lot more attractive SUMMARY