Re: Price of Electrics

[G.Lambert@unsw.edu.au (Geoff Lambert)]

billboltonREMOVE-TO-EMAIL@computer.org (Bill Bolton) wrote:

>thalytgv@my-dejanews.com wrote:

>> I think electrification would help to reduced greenhouse
>> emmision a lot

>Thoughts are easy, proof is more difficult.  The efficacy of electric
>locomotion over diesel locomotion greenhouse terms depends to some
>extent on the method of generation of the electricity, so make sure
>you understand how Victoria shapes up in this respect.  

CO2 emissions (and O2 use) are linked to primary energy release in the
energy source.  It's very similar for all carbon-based fuels- all
sorts of coal, oil, gas (to a lesser extent), wood, etc.  So the ratio
of CO2 emissions to end-use energy is dependent on conversion
efficiency.  As discussed here a few weeks ago, primary ---> end use
conversion is about 35% for diesel electric-traction or thermal
central generating station-electric traction, so there is no gain to
be had as far as CO2 goes.  What would make a difference is the extent
to which the electricity were generated by non-combustion means-
hydro, wind, solar.

Geoff Lambert