Electric Cars: Are they as friendly as they look?

Most of us are pretty happy to see that the "green" initiative is becoming more and more popular. Recycling, reusable bags, Nalgene bottles...and of course, hybrid and electric cars. However, when you think about it, electric cars might not be as environmentally friendly as we hoped. At least not until we can develop some more environmentally-friendly ways of providing electricity.

People think that if they plug their car into the wall in their garage and then stealthily drive to work in their silent and aerodynamic car, they are saving the earth. But think about our most common sources for electrical power! According to the US Energy Information Administration, the number one resource used to create electricty is coal, followed closely by petroleum, natural gas, and other gases (http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epa/epat1p1.html).

Granted, there are renewable resources that can be used to create electricity, but I'm pretty sure that most people who own electric cars aren't sporting a wind mill or a solar panel in their backyard. In fact, if every family in America bought an electric car, that would mean a much greater demand for electricity. This would require not only more resources (both renewable and nonrenewable) to produce electricity, but also more plants to store it. (http://www.npr.org/2010/12/14/132030155/the-charging-conundrum-how-to-feed-electric-cars) So while it may be cost-effective, is it really more environmentally friendly than a gas-powered car? And, are we even ready to supply that volume of electricity?

Don't get me wrong--I'm not against alternatives to gas- and diesel-powered vehicles. But if we're creating electricity with fossil fuels, how is driving an electric car any more "green"? Besides, most electric cars can't sustain enough power to drive around all day--they have to convert to gasoline power just to make it through a daily commute. And while efforts to create more sustainable energy sources are happening, according to this article on windfarms in the southwest (http://www.npr.org/2010/12/13/132026666/golden-eagles-keep-windfarm-projects-grounded), construction of windmills on federal land has been halted to save golden eagles. Which makes sense, but I mean, eagles aren't stupid. They avoid power lines, cell phone towers, and skyscrapers. Can't they fly around a windmill?

The point is, the electric car may seem friendly because it's powered by electricity, but we need to consider how electricity is created. If your electrical power comes from coal, your electric car is powered by coal too.

But, at least it's progress.