tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6168620747792092240.post1914196238474687924..comments2024-03-27T15:09:59.039-06:00Comments on Wasatch Weather Weenies: Virtual Parking Passes: Opportunities for a Sustainable FutureJim Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15799757451626876963noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6168620747792092240.post-91485533110101971012014-06-23T07:57:21.646-06:002014-06-23T07:57:21.646-06:00This is a good question.
In Utah, about 80% of ou...This is a good question.<br /><br />In Utah, about 80% of our electricity is produced by coal. Thus, electric vehicles that obtain their energy from "the grid" are not zero emission. The are only zero emission at the tailpipe (see http://wasatchweatherweenies.blogspot.com/2012/01/can-evs-save-us-from-pollution-during.html). <br /><br />However, the location of the emissions is different, and that is potentially important for wintertime PM2.5 events. During inversions, tailpipe emissions are essentially trapped in the Salt Lake Valley and contribute to our high PM concentrations. In the case of electric vehicles, however, the emissions are at the power plants, which are usually outside the Salt Lake Valley. Basically, you are moving the emissions to a location where they have a much smaller (often negligible in the case of wintertime inversions) impact on pollution *in the Salt Lake Valley.*<br /><br />In such a scenario, you would help reduce the frequency and severity of poor air quality events in the Salt Lake Valley, but you still have a regional and global emissions source. For instance, you are still emitting CO2, NOX, mercury, etc., if the energy source is a coal plant. Efforts would need to be made to capture those emissions at the coal plant and/or move to cleaner energy sources (e.g., natural gas, nuclear, renewables) to have an overall decrease in pollution. <br /><br />JimJim Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15799757451626876963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6168620747792092240.post-87295870568487020582014-06-22T22:41:41.495-06:002014-06-22T22:41:41.495-06:00How is a no-tailpipe emissions vehicle work pollut...How is a no-tailpipe emissions vehicle work pollution-wise when it needs to be plugged into a largely coal- and gas-based electrical grid here in Salt Lake City? If all SLC residents went out and got Nissan Leafs, would our pollution situation improve relative to similar gasoline or hybrid vehicles? Obviously, its a complicated problem, but I'm wondering if you can provide some clarity.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00232210409891278155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6168620747792092240.post-86669263995519231782014-06-22T07:01:26.102-06:002014-06-22T07:01:26.102-06:00That is a great idea/plan.That is a great idea/plan.tcruickshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06730530603038741779noreply@blogger.com