GoodBye 230!

GOODBYE FOR NOW!

After 3 years and nearly 30,000 miles, we are obligated to turn in "COOPER E 230",

Say Goodbye and hope that the next adventure is as good for him as it was for us.

Now I've returned to buying Gas and Diesel, 

spending what it cost to run the Mini E for two months 

every time I fill the tank with fuel (about once a week).

I was dropped from the BMW Active E program because I asked a few questions

about things that were offered then taken away,

essentially the Dealers were entered into the mix on the Active E and reaffirmed

my hatred of having to deal with a dealer to acquire an automobile.

I will always buy Direct whenever possible, 

dealing with a middle man really blows.

So, I am back to Fossil Fuel, only momentarily, as soon as I can order and purchase

a 100% Electric Car I like - I will do it!

Functional word is like - Don't like the Leaf, 

Don't like Hybrids of any kind - too complex with two systems requiring maintenance,

I want a Real car with Real capacity and Real range!

The TESLA Model X looks wonderful, the Model S will deliver soon, 

I am waiting to see how they do in actual service, we will know by the end of summer.

You buy Direct from Tesla (No Dealer), the car is delivered to your door, 

Service (if you need it) comes to your door (no Waiting Rooms)

It's clean and simple, no oil, gas, diesel, maintenance.....

I can't wait!

The future is almost here!

Last two weeks with the MINI E.

For More Information about the BMW ACTIVE E:

See:

BMW Active E on Facebook

Compare the amount of Electricity it takes to refine one gallon of Gasoline with the Electricity consumption of an Electric Car.

Written by my friend Peter Norby, so well, I am merely repeating it here:

Quick-draw critics of the electric car often criticize EVs because, in their words, “Electric cars simply replace a tailpipe with a smokestack.”

The gist of their argument is that emissions still occur, not at the tailpipe but at the electric power plant. That observation is usually followed by the statement that 45% of our grid electricity is powered by coal and coal is dirty. Thus, the EV supposedly provides no net gain.

The critics may want to look in the mirror — or in their garage.

In California, oil refineries are the second largest users of electricity. Moving water around the state via water authorities is the single largest contributor to state electricity use. And, you guessed it, refining crude also takes a tremendous amount of water!

6 kWh to refine gallon of gasIt is a simple fact that the refining of gasoline requires approximately 6 kWh of electricity per gallon of gasoline.

In fact, electricity and natural gas cost are estimated to comprise 43% of the U.S. oil refineries’ total expenses. If you tack on the energy required to extract and transport the oil to the refinery and then to the gas stations as well as the energy cost of the gas station, I’m sure that number jumps a few more kWh per gallon.

So, let’s be conservative and cut the oil guys a break and say it takes 8 kWh to extract, ship, refine and transport each gallon of gas.

What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. Drum roll: It takes more electricity to drive the average gasoline car 100 miles than it does to drive an electric car 100 miles.

Gas cars & electricity useA gas car that runs at the U.S. fleet average of 21 mpg will consume approximately five gallons of gasoline to travel 100 miles. Using our 8 kWh of electricity per gallon figure, this means that gasoline car uses approximately 40 kWh of electricity to drive 100 miles. An electric car will use approximately 30 kWh of electricity (3.3 miles per kWh) to drive the same 100 miles.

In sum, gas cars use more electricity than EVs, thus polluting at the smokestack. And they burn refined gasoline in a very inefficient engine, thus polluting at the tailpipe. In our large urban cities in the U.S., the emissions caused by our transportation fleet account for 70% or more of our man-made emissions and visible particulate matter (smog) and related health care costs. Think of that as smoking two packs of cigarettes.

Electric cars run on electricity created by a mixture of energy sources. Many electric car drivers such as myself quickly discover that making your own electricity via solar PV is the best and cheapest way to fuel (about $0.40 per gallon of gas equivalent). Think of that as cleaning up the air in our major cities, saving money and as not smoking.