re: If tomorrow morning every vehicle in the US were electric would we use less energy??

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So assuming everything is equal, yes we would use less energy.

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Energy source (fuel) and energy are not the same.

Don't know but liberals would still find a way to bitch about global warming and blame oil companies for it.

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Don't forget coal and nuclear plus all those beautiful windmills that kill hawks and eagles OH and there are those solar panels that nobody can afford except with tax subsidies.

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I think that is a crock. You see more and more boats with solar panels as well as 3rd world countries without any power grids buying individual solar panels for homes and hooking them up.

I think the installers and energy companies are using solar to tie people up in long term energy contracts. The cost per solar panel should be about $300 and it should be easy enough for a DIY install.

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My point is that entropically speaking your gas engine loses far more energy as waste than your local power plant does.

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I have read mixed opinions on this particularly with the new technology on cars.

There is the loss of electricity in transmission too.

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There is the loss of electricity in transmission too.

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CVT's have helped there. Admittedly its been a long time since I took thermo, however.

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There are maximum theoretical efficiencies between an internal combustion engine and say a Rankine cycle nuclear reactor.

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Again. Read the question in the OP.

Would we use less energy? No.

It still takes the same amount of energy to do the same work regardless of energy source.

What you are getting at is some energy sources may be more efficient than others. But that wasn't the question in the OP.

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I think the installers and energy companies are using solar to tie people up in long term energy contracts. The cost per solar panel should be about $300 and it should be easy enough for a DIY install.

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Well I just don't know because at my age, not going to go that route.

That said, there is a gentleman (PHD Ed) and his wife in these parts that claim to have spent $23K for solar panels on the roof of their home. Absolutely gorgeous location in the hills and there are these solar panels that are less than cool looking. He claims to be kicking back to the electric company more than he is using for apx. 20% of the time. He goes on to discuss how he and his wife sweat a little during the hot summers and are a little chilled in the winter. But hey, they are comfortable so goes the story. Claims the payback on the panels will be 14 years, but I haven't put a calculator to his claims so don't know.

Missing from the dissertation is maintenance, repair, replacement, etc. costs and the one I would be most concerned with...what happens when the roof need new shingles? You know all those delicate little panels need to be removed by those illegal immigrants, then reinstalled...and OH, surely there's going to be some wires that come into play.

I'll stick with propane and living off the grid, thank you.

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What you are getting at is some energy sources may be more efficient than others. But that wasn't the question in the OP.

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Right.

So his question was if everyone started using electrical cars, would we use less energy. My response was that if everything was equal (i.e., that everyone magically got electrical cars, batteries, and a capable grid...), yes we would. The difference would be the difference in efficiencies between the internal combustion engine and your electric motor in your car.

The argument can rightly be made that a power plant can be regulated more effectively in regards to its pollution output than thousands of autos on the street.

The internal combustion engine technology that should be exploited more fully is the use of ceramics. Heat transfer in any form through exhaust or cooling is wasted energy.

The costs of ceramics I'm sure high however.

We would use more natural gas and significantly less oil.