Plug-in electric cars could cut US oil use, emissions, group says

Washington (Platts)--24Jan2006

Although plug-in hybrid electric cars would generate more emissions from
power plants, they would more than make up for that output with reduced
tailpipe exhaust, said a group formed Tuesday to urge US automakers to build
the fuel efficient electrified automotives.

     The group, called Plug-in Partners, is made up of efficiency advocates,
researchers, public power groups and national security specialists, who are
advocating the technology as a way to improve the environment and reduce US
dependence on foreign oil. 

     They argued that it is easier to regulate emissions from power plants
than it is to cut output significantly using other automobile technology, like
hydrogen fuel cells. 

     By using electricity "you are shifting responsibility to an easy to
regulate group of a few large power plants," said Joseph Romm, who heads the
Center for Energy and Climate Solutions. Romm, a former official in the
Clinton administratin's Dept of Energy, added that electricity from the
dirtiest plants still would result in lower emissions from the transportation
sector.

     The group, which is made up of Austin Power, the American Public Power
Association, the Alliance to Save Energy and the Clean Air Coalition, among
others, said that cars can run on electric power for less than $1 per gallon
of gas equivalent and the existing electricity infrastructure could provide
power for 30% of the nation's automobile fleet.

                    ---Dan Whitten, daniel_whitten@platts.com

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