[zamler]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

What about the issues around battery disposal for electric cars. The environmental issues around the manufacture of the car. The relatively short life of the batteries and the cost of replacement.

You are making a lot of assumptions. What makes you think the battery packs have a short life? So far that has proven not to be the case in a hybrid. As for the cost of replacement, what about the cost to replace your engine, or transmission, or any of the numerous emissions control components. Or the exhaust system. An electric car has far less components that are prone to failure. As far as battery disposal, they are not tossed away they are recycled, same as just about every other component that goes into a car. Actually a battery is easier to recycle than some other parts of the car, for example the electronics contain a bewildering array of compounds.

I'm not pooping on the electric car but isn't the overall emmissions of the whole lifecycle similar to the standard car, but the cost of keeping one on the road much greater?

I don't think there is enough data to say. But a pure electric car has the potential to be extremely reliable, and have far less maintenance. The fact that you don't have any combustion taking place GREATLY simplifies and extends the life of all the components involved. Look at any modern engine bay, the sheer number of systems designed to deal with the fuel, combustion and resulting emissions is substantial to say the least.

I would think that it would be just as prudent to continue to improve engine efficiencies and burning technology on standard vehicles?

The thermal efficiency of the internal combustion engine is about as good as it gets.

As for natural gas, IMO the best way to utilize it is to generate electricity, and use it to charge electric powered cars. It's not a perfect system, but given our current infrastructure about as good as we can do.