What is bad about plug in cars?

Answer 1

If the electricity used to recharge these vehicles, came from renewable resources, then nothing. However, that day has not yet come. Most of the electricity produced today still relies on Fossil Fuels, also no energy transport system is 100% efficient. More power must be produced at a remote Power Station, than is actually used to charge the vehicle's battery, causing more pollution, than an engine in the vehicle, would cause.

This is referred to as secondary pollution. Answer: Did some calculations around one specific electric car (the Zenn) and its operating CO2 footprint.

Based on a 58 km operating range and 7 kw-hr to charge for that distance and the CO2/MW-hr of the Canadian Provinces' electrical supplies as detailed in the CAPP GHG Calculation handbook there were some interesting findings. A Zenn would be responsible for 120 gm CO2/km in Alberta, 125 in NE BC and 109 in Saskatchewan. The other Provinces have more hydro and nuclear so the CO2 ownership is between 4 and 36 gm/km.

A Prius produces 100gm CO2/km if it lives up to its 4 liter/100km rating. The Zenn is almost as good as a Prius even in the Provinces with the dirtiest electricity and way better in the rest.

For other eco-sensitive cars at 5 to 7 liters/100km the Zenn would meet or beat all comers