Straits Times Forum 15 May 09;
I REFER to yesterday's Forum Online letter by Mr M.S. Suresh, 'Will electric cars increase rather than lessen carbon footprint?'. I would say the answer is 'no'.
The conversion chain of oil or gas into electricity in four processes as described is no doubt correct to some extent, but the direct burning of gas or petrol in vehicles is not fewer than four stages. In fact, the electric conversion chain lessens the carbon footprint.
Broadly speaking, from crude oil to electric car involves four processes - diesel, steam, electric and AC/DC. It is the same for the petrol car, except petrol from crude reaches the pump via a different route - petrol, bulk storage, retail petrol and combustion in car. Four processes are also required for liquefied natural gas (LNG) - gas field to LNG, bulk storage of LNG in producing country, LNG terminal storage and retail LNG to cars.
Theoretically, burning oil or gas creates the same carbon footprint in the atmosphere. However, electricity generated by power stations consumes oil and gas in bulk with economies of scale and reduces secondary processes and transport, which exacerbate carbon footprint production.
Relentless efforts to find alternative energy are necessary to improve air quality. Electric cars are the answer to a cleaner environment.
Scientists are looking into future electric cars with a super-efficient electricity storage system to blend into the era when nuclear power stations are common. We should think far ahead and not be bogged down by environmentalists and carbon-footprint concepts.
Paul Chan
